1
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Herrera B, Schall JD, Riera JJ. Agranular frontal cortical microcircuit underlying cognitive control in macaques. Front Neural Circuits 2024; 18:1389110. [PMID: 38601266 PMCID: PMC11005916 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2024.1389110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The error-related negativity and an N2-component recorded over medial frontal cortex index core functions of cognitive control. While they are known to originate from agranular frontal areas, the underlying microcircuit mechanisms remain elusive. Most insights about microcircuit function have been derived from variations of the so-called canonical microcircuit model. These microcircuit architectures are based extensively on studies from granular sensory cortical areas in monkeys, cats, and rodents. However, evidence has shown striking cytoarchitectonic differences across species and differences in the functional relationships across cortical layers in agranular compared to granular sensory areas. In this minireview, we outline a tentative microcircuit model underlying cognitive control in the agranular frontal cortex of primates. The model incorporates the main GABAergic interneuron subclasses with specific laminar arrangements and target regions on pyramidal cells. We emphasize the role of layer 5 pyramidal cells in error and conflict detection. We offer several specific questions necessary for creating a specific intrinsic microcircuit model of the agranular frontal cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Herrera
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Jeffrey D. Schall
- Centre for Vision Research, Centre for Integrative & Applied Neuroscience, Department of Biology and Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jorge J. Riera
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
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2
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Metzner C, Mäki-Marttunen T, Karni G, McMahon-Cole H, Steuber V. The effect of alterations of schizophrenia-associated genes on gamma band oscillations. SCHIZOPHRENIA 2022; 8:46. [PMID: 35854005 PMCID: PMC9261091 DOI: 10.1038/s41537-022-00255-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Abnormalities in the synchronized oscillatory activity of neurons in general and, specifically in the gamma band, might play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. While these changes in oscillatory activity have traditionally been linked to alterations at the synaptic level, we demonstrate here, using computational modeling, that common genetic variants of ion channels can contribute strongly to this effect. Our model of primary auditory cortex highlights multiple schizophrenia-associated genetic variants that reduce gamma power in an auditory steady-state response task. Furthermore, we show that combinations of several of these schizophrenia-associated variants can produce similar effects as the more traditionally considered synaptic changes. Overall, our study provides a mechanistic link between schizophrenia-associated common genetic variants, as identified by genome-wide association studies, and one of the most robust neurophysiological endophenotypes of schizophrenia.
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3
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Fontanier V, Sarazin M, Stoll FM, Delord B, Procyk E. Inhibitory control of frontal metastability sets the temporal signature of cognition. eLife 2022; 11:63795. [PMID: 35635439 PMCID: PMC9200403 DOI: 10.7554/elife.63795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cortical dynamics are organized over multiple anatomical and temporal scales. The mechanistic origin of the temporal organization and its contribution to cognition remain unknown. Here we demonstrate the cause of this organization by studying a specific temporal signature (time constant and latency) of neural activity. In monkey frontal areas, recorded during flexible decisions, temporal signatures display specific area-dependent ranges, as well as anatomical and cell-type distributions. Moreover, temporal signatures are functionally adapted to behaviorally relevant timescales. Fine-grained biophysical network models, constrained to account for experimentally observed temporal signatures, reveal that after-hyperpolarization potassium and inhibitory GABA-B conductances critically determine areas' specificity. They mechanistically account for temporal signatures by organizing activity into metastable states, with inhibition controlling state stability and transitions. As predicted by models, state durations non-linearly scale with temporal signatures in monkey, matching behavioral timescales. Thus, local inhibitory-controlled metastability constitutes the dynamical core specifying the temporal organization of cognitive functions in frontal areas.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Matthieu Sarazin
- Institute of Intelligent Systems and Robotics (ISIR) - UMR 7222, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Frederic M Stoll
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, United States
| | - Bruno Delord
- Institute of Intelligent Systems and Robotics (ISIR) - UMR 7222, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Emmanuel Procyk
- Stem Cell and Brain Research Institute U1208, Inserm, Lyon, France
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4
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Liu X, Kuzum D. Hippocampal-Cortical Memory Trace Transfer and Reactivation Through Cell-Specific Stimulus and Spontaneous Background Noise. Front Comput Neurosci 2019; 13:67. [PMID: 31680922 PMCID: PMC6798041 DOI: 10.3389/fncom.2019.00067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The hippocampus plays important roles in memory formation and retrieval through sharp-wave-ripples. Recent studies have shown that certain neuron populations in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) exhibit coordinated reactivations during awake ripple events. These experimental findings suggest that the awake ripple is an important biomarker, through which the hippocampus interacts with the neocortex to assist memory formation and retrieval. However, the computational mechanisms of this ripple based hippocampal-cortical coordination are still not clear due to the lack of unified models that include both the hippocampal and cortical networks. In this work, using a coupled biophysical model of both CA1 and PFC, we investigate possible mechanisms of hippocampal-cortical memory trace transfer and the conditions that assist reactivation of the transferred memory traces in the PFC. To validate our model, we first show that the local field potentials generated in the hippocampus and PFC exhibit ripple range activities that are consistent with the recent experimental studies. Then we demonstrate that during ripples, sequence replays can successfully transfer the information stored in the hippocampus to the PFC recurrent networks. We investigate possible mechanisms of memory retrieval in PFC networks. Our results suggest that the stored memory traces in the PFC network can be retrieved through two different mechanisms, namely the cell-specific input representing external stimuli and non-specific spontaneous background noise representing spontaneous memory recall events. Importantly, in both cases, the memory reactivation quality is robust to network connection loss. Finally, we find out that the quality of sequence reactivations is enhanced by both increased number of SWRs and an optimal background noise intensity, which tunes the excitability of neurons to a proper level. Our study presents a mechanistic explanation for the memory trace transfer from the hippocampus to neocortex through ripple coupling in awake states and reports two different mechanisms by which the stored memory traces can be successfully retrieved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Liu
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Duygu Kuzum
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
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5
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Mäki-Marttunen T, Krull F, Bettella F, Hagen E, Næss S, Ness TV, Moberget T, Elvsåshagen T, Metzner C, Devor A, Edwards AG, Fyhn M, Djurovic S, Dale AM, Andreassen OA, Einevoll GT. Alterations in Schizophrenia-Associated Genes Can Lead to Increased Power in Delta Oscillations. Cereb Cortex 2019; 29:875-891. [PMID: 30475994 PMCID: PMC6319172 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhy291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2018] [Revised: 10/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies have implicated many ion channels in schizophrenia pathophysiology. Although the functions of these channels are relatively well characterized by single-cell studies, the contributions of common variation in these channels to neurophysiological biomarkers and symptoms of schizophrenia remain elusive. Here, using computational modeling, we show that a common biomarker of schizophrenia, namely, an increase in delta-oscillation power, may be a direct consequence of altered expression or kinetics of voltage-gated ion channels or calcium transporters. Our model of a circuit of layer V pyramidal cells highlights multiple types of schizophrenia-related variants that contribute to altered dynamics in the delta-frequency band. Moreover, our model predicts that the same membrane mechanisms that increase the layer V pyramidal cell network gain and response to delta-frequency oscillations may also cause a deficit in a single-cell correlate of the prepulse inhibition, which is a behavioral biomarker highly associated with schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuomo Mäki-Marttunen
- Simula Research Laboratory, Oslo, Norway
- NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Florian Krull
- NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Francesco Bettella
- NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Espen Hagen
- Department of Physics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - Solveig Næss
- Department of Informatics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Torbjørn V Ness
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - Torgeir Moberget
- NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Torbjørn Elvsåshagen
- NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Neurology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Christoph Metzner
- Centre for Computer Science and Informatics Research, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK
| | - Anna Devor
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | | | - Marianne Fyhn
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Srdjan Djurovic
- Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Anders M Dale
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Ole A Andreassen
- NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Gaute T Einevoll
- Department of Physics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
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6
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Mäki-Marttunen T, Kaufmann T, Elvsåshagen T, Devor A, Djurovic S, Westlye LT, Linne ML, Rietschel M, Schubert D, Borgwardt S, Efrim-Budisteanu M, Bettella F, Halnes G, Hagen E, Næss S, Ness TV, Moberget T, Metzner C, Edwards AG, Fyhn M, Dale AM, Einevoll GT, Andreassen OA. Biophysical Psychiatry-How Computational Neuroscience Can Help to Understand the Complex Mechanisms of Mental Disorders. Front Psychiatry 2019; 10:534. [PMID: 31440172 PMCID: PMC6691488 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The brain is the most complex of human organs, and the pathophysiology underlying abnormal brain function in psychiatric disorders is largely unknown. Despite the rapid development of diagnostic tools and treatments in most areas of medicine, our understanding of mental disorders and their treatment has made limited progress during the last decades. While recent advances in genetics and neuroscience have a large potential, the complexity and multidimensionality of the brain processes hinder the discovery of disease mechanisms that would link genetic findings to clinical symptoms and behavior. This applies also to schizophrenia, for which genome-wide association studies have identified a large number of genetic risk loci, spanning hundreds of genes with diverse functionalities. Importantly, the multitude of the associated variants and their prevalence in the healthy population limit the potential of a reductionist functional genetics approach as a stand-alone solution to discover the disease pathology. In this review, we outline the key concepts of a "biophysical psychiatry," an approach that employs large-scale mechanistic, biophysics-founded computational modelling to increase transdisciplinary understanding of the pathophysiology and strive toward robust predictions. We discuss recent scientific advances that allow a synthesis of previously disparate fields of psychiatry, neurophysiology, functional genomics, and computational modelling to tackle open questions regarding the pathophysiology of heritable mental disorders. We argue that the complexity of the increasing amount of genetic data exceeds the capabilities of classical experimental assays and requires computational approaches. Biophysical psychiatry, based on modelling diseased brain networks using existing and future knowledge of basic genetic, biochemical, and functional properties on a single neuron to a microcircuit level, may allow a leap forward in deriving interpretable biomarkers and move the field toward novel treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuomo Mäki-Marttunen
- Department of Computational Physiology, Simula Research Laboratory, Oslo, Norway.,NORMENT, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Tobias Kaufmann
- NORMENT, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Torbjørn Elvsåshagen
- NORMENT, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Neurology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Anna Devor
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.,Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.,Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Srdjan Djurovic
- Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,NORMENT, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Lars T Westlye
- NORMENT, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Marja-Leena Linne
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Marcella Rietschel
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Dirk Schubert
- Cognitive Neuroscience Department, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Stefan Borgwardt
- Department of Psychiatry (UPK), University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Magdalena Efrim-Budisteanu
- Prof. Dr. Alex. Obregia Clinical Hospital of Psychiatry, Bucharest, Romania.,Victor Babes National Institute of Pathology, Bucharest, Romania.,Faculty of Medicine, Titu Maiorescu University, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Francesco Bettella
- NORMENT, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Geir Halnes
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - Espen Hagen
- Department of Physics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Solveig Næss
- Department of Informatics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Torbjørn V Ness
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - Torgeir Moberget
- NORMENT, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Christoph Metzner
- Centre for Computer Science and Informatics Research, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, United Kingdom.,Institute of Software Engineering and Theoretical Computer Science, Technische Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andrew G Edwards
- Department of Computational Physiology, Simula Research Laboratory, Oslo, Norway
| | - Marianne Fyhn
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Anders M Dale
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.,Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Gaute T Einevoll
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway.,Department of Physics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ole A Andreassen
- NORMENT, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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7
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Riquelme D, Silva I, Philp AM, Huidobro-Toro JP, Cerda O, Trimmer JS, Leiva-Salcedo E. Subcellular Localization and Activity of TRPM4 in Medial Prefrontal Cortex Layer 2/3. Front Cell Neurosci 2018; 12:12. [PMID: 29440991 PMCID: PMC5797675 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2018.00012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
TRPM4 is a Ca2+-activated non-selective cationic channel that conducts monovalent cations. TRPM4 has been proposed to contribute to burst firing and sustained activity in several brain regions, however, the cellular and subcellular pattern of TRPM4 expression in medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) during postnatal development has not been elucidated. Here, we use multiplex immunofluorescence labeling of brain sections to characterize the postnatal developmental expression of TRPM4 in the mouse mPFC. We also performed electrophysiological recordings to correlate the expression of TRPM4 immunoreactivity with the presence of TRPM4-like currents. We found that TRPM4 is expressed from the first postnatal day, with expression increasing up to postnatal day 35. Additionally, in perforated patch clamp experiments, we found that TRPM4-like currents were active at resting membrane potentials at all postnatal ages studied. Moreover, TRPM4 is expressed in both pyramidal neurons and interneurons. TRPM4 expression is localized in the soma and proximal dendrites, but not in the axon initial segment of pyramidal neurons. This subcellular localization is consistent with a reduction in the basal current only when we locally perfused 9-Phenanthrol in the soma, but not upon perfusion in the medial or distal dendrites. Our results show a specific localization of TRPM4 expression in neurons in the mPFC and that a 9-Phenanthrol sensitive current is active at resting membrane potential, suggesting specific functional roles in mPFC neurons during postnatal development and in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise Riquelme
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ian Silva
- Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ashleigh M Philp
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, College of Biological Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Juan P Huidobro-Toro
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Centro para el Desarrollo de Nanociencias y Nanotecnología, Santiago, Chile
| | - Oscar Cerda
- Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Millennium Nucleus of Ion Channels-Associated Diseases (MiNICAD), Santiago, Chile
| | - James S Trimmer
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, College of Biological Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States.,Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis CA, United States
| | - Elias Leiva-Salcedo
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Centro para el Desarrollo de Nanociencias y Nanotecnología, Santiago, Chile
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8
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Beining M, Mongiat LA, Schwarzacher SW, Cuntz H, Jedlicka P. T2N as a new tool for robust electrophysiological modeling demonstrated for mature and adult-born dentate granule cells. eLife 2017; 6:e26517. [PMID: 29165247 PMCID: PMC5737656 DOI: 10.7554/elife.26517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2017] [Accepted: 11/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Compartmental models are the theoretical tool of choice for understanding single neuron computations. However, many models are incomplete, built ad hoc and require tuning for each novel condition rendering them of limited usability. Here, we present T2N, a powerful interface to control NEURON with Matlab and TREES toolbox, which supports generating models stable over a broad range of reconstructed and synthetic morphologies. We illustrate this for a novel, highly detailed active model of dentate granule cells (GCs) replicating a wide palette of experiments from various labs. By implementing known differences in ion channel composition and morphology, our model reproduces data from mouse or rat, mature or adult-born GCs as well as pharmacological interventions and epileptic conditions. This work sets a new benchmark for detailed compartmental modeling. T2N is suitable for creating robust models useful for large-scale networks that could lead to novel predictions. We discuss possible T2N application in degeneracy studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel Beining
- Ernst Strüngmann Institute (ESI) for Neuroscience in Cooperation with Max Planck SocietyFrankfurtGermany
- Frankfurt Institute for Advanced StudiesFrankfurtGermany
- Institute of Clinical Neuroanatomy, Neuroscience CenterGoethe UniversityFrankfurtGermany
- Faculty of BiosciencesGoethe UniversityFrankfurtGermany
| | - Lucas Alberto Mongiat
- Instituto de Investigación en Biodiversidad y MedioambienteUniversidad Nacional del Comahue-CONICETSan Carlos de BarilocheArgentina
| | | | - Hermann Cuntz
- Ernst Strüngmann Institute (ESI) for Neuroscience in Cooperation with Max Planck SocietyFrankfurtGermany
- Frankfurt Institute for Advanced StudiesFrankfurtGermany
| | - Peter Jedlicka
- Institute of Clinical Neuroanatomy, Neuroscience CenterGoethe UniversityFrankfurtGermany
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9
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Börgers C, Takeuchi RM, Rosebrock DT. On Rhythms in Neuronal Networks with Recurrent Excitation. Neural Comput 2017; 30:333-377. [PMID: 29162005 DOI: 10.1162/neco_a_01034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
We investigate rhythms in networks of neurons with recurrent excitation, that is, with excitatory cells exciting each other. Recurrent excitation can sustain activity even when the cells in the network are driven below threshold, too weak to fire on their own. This sort of "reverberating" activity is often thought to be the basis of working memory. Recurrent excitation can also lead to "runaway" transitions, sudden transitions to high-frequency firing; this may be related to epileptic seizures. Not all fundamental questions about these phenomena have been answered with clarity in the literature. We focus on three questions here: (1) How much recurrent excitation is needed to sustain reverberating activity? How does the answer depend on parameters? (2) Is there a positive minimum frequency of reverberating activity, a positive "onset frequency"? How does it depend on parameters? (3) When do runaway transitions occur? For reduced models, we give mathematical answers to these questions. We also examine computationally to which extent our findings are reflected in the behavior of biophysically more realistic model networks. Our main results can be summarized as follows. (1) Reverberating activity can be fueled by extremely weak slow recurrent excitation, but only by sufficiently strong fast recurrent excitation. (2) The onset of reverberating activity, as recurrent excitation is strengthened or external drive is raised, occurs at a positive frequency. It is faster when the external drive is weaker (and the recurrent excitation stronger). It is slower when the recurrent excitation has a longer decay time constant. (3) Runaway transitions occur only with fast, not with slow, recurrent excitation. We also demonstrate that the relation between reverberating activity fueled by recurrent excitation and runaway transitions can be visualized in an instructive way by a (generalized) cusp catastrophe surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Börgers
- Department of Mathematics, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, U.S.A.
| | - R Melody Takeuchi
- Department of Mathematics, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, U.S.A.
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10
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Mäki-Marttunen T, Lines GT, Edwards AG, Tveito A, Dale AM, Einevoll GT, Andreassen OA. Pleiotropic effects of schizophrenia-associated genetic variants in neuron firing and cardiac pacemaking revealed by computational modeling. Transl Psychiatry 2017; 7:5. [PMID: 30446648 PMCID: PMC5802468 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-017-0007-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2017] [Revised: 07/07/2017] [Accepted: 07/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia patients have an increased risk of cardiac dysfunction. A possible factor underlying this comorbidity are the common variants in the large set of genes that have recently been discovered in genome-wide association studies (GWASs) as risk genes of schizophrenia. Many of these genes control the cell electrogenesis and calcium homeostasis. We applied biophysically detailed models of layer V pyramidal cells and sinoatrial node cells to study the contribution of schizophrenia-associated genes on cellular excitability. By including data from functional genomics literature to simulate the effects of common variants of these genes, we showed that variants of voltage-gated Na+ channel or hyperpolarization-activated cation channel-encoding genes cause qualitatively similar effects on layer V pyramidal cell and sinoatrial node cell excitability. By contrast, variants of Ca2+ channel or transporter-encoding genes mostly have opposite effects on cellular excitability in the two cell types. We also show that the variants may crucially affect the propagation of the cardiac action potential in the sinus node. These results may help explain some of the cardiac comorbidity in schizophrenia, and may facilitate generation of effective antipsychotic medications without cardiac side-effects such as arrhythmia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuomo Mäki-Marttunen
- NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. .,Simula Research Laboratory and Center for Cardiological Innovation, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Glenn T. Lines
- Simula Research Laboratory and Center for Cardiological Innovation, Oslo, Norway
| | - Andrew G. Edwards
- Simula Research Laboratory and Center for Cardiological Innovation, Oslo, Norway
| | - Aslak Tveito
- Simula Research Laboratory and Center for Cardiological Innovation, Oslo, Norway
| | - Anders M. Dale
- 0000 0001 2107 4242grid.266100.3Multimodal Imaging Laboratory, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA ,0000 0001 2107 4242grid.266100.3Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA ,0000 0001 2107 4242grid.266100.3Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Gaute T. Einevoll
- 0000 0004 0607 975Xgrid.19477.3cDepartment of Mathematical Sciences and Technology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway ,0000 0004 1936 8921grid.5510.1Department of Physics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ole A. Andreassen
- 0000 0004 1936 8921grid.5510.1NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway ,0000 0004 0389 8485grid.55325.34Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
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11
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Papoutsi A, Kastellakis G, Poirazi P. Basal tree complexity shapes functional pathways in the prefrontal cortex. J Neurophysiol 2017; 118:1970-1983. [PMID: 28701532 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00099.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2017] [Revised: 06/29/2017] [Accepted: 07/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
While the morphology of basal dendritic trees in cortical pyramidal neurons varies, the functional implications of this diversity are just starting to emerge. In layer 5 pyramidal neurons of the prefrontal cortex, for example, increased basal tree complexity determines the recruitment of these neurons into functional circuits. Here, we use a modeling approach to investigate whether and how the morphology of the basal tree mediates the functional output of neurons. We implemented 57 basal tree morphologies of layer 5 prefrontal pyramidal neurons of the rat and identified morphological types that were characterized by different response features, forming distinct functional types. These types were robust to a wide range of manipulations (distribution of active ionic mechanisms, NMDA conductance, somatic and apical tree morphology, or the number of activated synapses) and supported different temporal coding schemes at both the single neuron and the microcircuit level. We predict that the basal tree morphological diversity among neurons of the same class mediates their segregation into distinct functional pathways. Extension of our approach/findings to other cortical areas and/or layers or under pathological conditions may provide a generalized role of the basal trees for neuronal function.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Our results suggest that the segregation of neurons to different functional types based on their basal tree morphology is in large part independent of the distribution of active ionic mechanisms, NMDA conductance, somatic and apical tree morphology, and the number of activated synapses; different functional types support distinct temporal coding schemes. This can be exploited to create networks with diverse coding characteristics, thus contributing to the functional heterogeneity within the same layer and area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athanasia Papoutsi
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Crete, Greece; and
| | - George Kastellakis
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Crete, Greece; and.,Department of Biology, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Panayiota Poirazi
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Crete, Greece; and
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12
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Hetereogeneity in Neuronal Intrinsic Properties: A Possible Mechanism for Hub-Like Properties of the Rat Anterior Cingulate Cortex during Network Activity. eNeuro 2017; 4:eN-NWR-0313-16. [PMID: 28275720 PMCID: PMC5340498 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0313-16.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2016] [Revised: 01/06/2017] [Accepted: 01/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is vital for a range of brain functions requiring cognitive control and has highly divergent inputs and outputs, thus manifesting as a hub in connectomic analyses. Studies show diverse functional interactions within the ACC are associated with network oscillations in the β (20–30 Hz) and γ (30-80 Hz) frequency range. Oscillations permit dynamic routing of information within cortex, a function that depends on bandpass filter–like behavior to selectively respond to specific inputs. However, a putative hub region such as ACC needs to be able to combine inputs from multiple sources rather than select a single input at the expense of others. To address this potential functional dichotomy, we modeled local ACC network dynamics in the rat in vitro. Modal peak oscillation frequencies in the β- and γ-frequency band corresponded to GABAAergic synaptic kinetics as seen in other regions; however, the intrinsic properties of ACC principal neurons were highly diverse. Computational modeling predicted that this neuronal response diversity broadened the bandwidth for filtering rhythmic inputs and supported combination—rather than selection—of different frequencies within the canonical γ and β electroencephalograph bands. These findings suggest that oscillating neuronal populations can support either response selection (routing) or combination, depending on the interplay between the kinetics of synaptic inhibition and the degree of heterogeneity of principal cell intrinsic conductances.
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13
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Neymotin SA, McDougal RA, Bulanova AS, Zeki M, Lakatos P, Terman D, Hines ML, Lytton WW. Calcium regulation of HCN channels supports persistent activity in a multiscale model of neocortex. Neuroscience 2016; 316:344-66. [PMID: 26746357 PMCID: PMC4724569 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.12.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2015] [Revised: 12/16/2015] [Accepted: 12/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Neuronal persistent activity has been primarily assessed in terms of electrical mechanisms, without attention to the complex array of molecular events that also control cell excitability. We developed a multiscale neocortical model proceeding from the molecular to the network level to assess the contributions of calcium (Ca(2+)) regulation of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels in providing additional and complementary support of continuing activation in the network. The network contained 776 compartmental neurons arranged in the cortical layers, connected using synapses containing AMPA/NMDA/GABAA/GABAB receptors. Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR) produced inositol triphosphate (IP3) which caused the release of Ca(2+) from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stores, with reuptake by sarco/ER Ca(2+)-ATP-ase pumps (SERCA), and influence on HCN channels. Stimulus-induced depolarization led to Ca(2+) influx via NMDA and voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels (VGCCs). After a delay, mGluR activation led to ER Ca(2+) release via IP3 receptors. These factors increased HCN channel conductance and produced firing lasting for ∼1min. The model displayed inter-scale synergies among synaptic weights, excitation/inhibition balance, firing rates, membrane depolarization, Ca(2+) levels, regulation of HCN channels, and induction of persistent activity. The interaction between inhibition and Ca(2+) at the HCN channel nexus determined a limited range of inhibition strengths for which intracellular Ca(2+) could prepare population-specific persistent activity. Interactions between metabotropic and ionotropic inputs to the neuron demonstrated how multiple pathways could contribute in a complementary manner to persistent activity. Such redundancy and complementarity via multiple pathways is a critical feature of biological systems. Mediation of activation at different time scales, and through different pathways, would be expected to protect against disruption, in this case providing stability for persistent activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Neymotin
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, SUNY Downstate, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
| | - R A McDougal
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
| | - A S Bulanova
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, SUNY Downstate, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
| | - M Zeki
- Department of Mathematics, Zirve University, 27260 Gaziantep, Turkey.
| | - P Lakatos
- Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, 140 Old Orangeburg Road, Orangeburg, NY 10962, USA.
| | - D Terman
- Department of Mathematics, The Ohio State University, 231 W 18th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
| | - M L Hines
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
| | - W W Lytton
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, SUNY Downstate, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA; Department of Neurology, SUNY Downstate, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA; Department Neurology, Kings County Hospital Center, 451 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA.
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14
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Jochems A, Yoshida M. A robust in vivo-like persistent firing supported by a hybrid of intracellular and synaptic mechanisms. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0123799. [PMID: 25901969 PMCID: PMC4406621 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0123799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2014] [Accepted: 03/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Persistent firing is believed to support short-term information retention in the brain. Established hypotheses make use of the recurrent synaptic connectivity to support persistent firing. However, this mechanism is known to suffer from a lack of robustness. On the other hand, persistent firing can be supported by an intrinsic cellular mechanism in multiple brain areas. However, the consequences of having both the intrinsic and the synaptic mechanisms (a hybrid model) on persistent firing remain largely unknown. The goal of this study is to investigate whether a hybrid neural network model with these two mechanisms has advantages over a conventional recurrent network based model. Our computer simulations were based on in vitro recordings obtained from hippocampal CA3 pyramidal cells under cholinergic receptor activation. Calcium activated non-specific cationic (CAN) current supported persistent firing in the Hodgkin-Huxley style cellular models. Our results suggest that the hybrid model supports persistent firing within a physiological frequency range over a wide range of different parameters, eliminating parameter sensitivity issues generally recognized in network based persistent firing. In addition, persistent firing in the hybrid model is substantially more robust against distracting inputs, can coexist with theta frequency oscillations, and supports pattern completion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur Jochems
- International Graduate School of Neuroscience, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Motoharu Yoshida
- International Graduate School of Neuroscience, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- Faculty of Psychology, Mercator Research Group—Structure of Memory, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- * E-mail:
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15
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Rabinowitch TC, Knafo-Noam A. Synchronous rhythmic interaction enhances children's perceived similarity and closeness towards each other. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0120878. [PMID: 25853859 PMCID: PMC4390221 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0120878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2014] [Accepted: 02/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Inter-personal synchronization is important for performing many cooperative tasks. Notably, synchrony has also been shown to have considerable positive social influences, possibly mediated by synchrony-induced changes in social attitude such as an increased sense of similarity and affiliation between interacting individuals. This effect has been demonstrated in adults, but it is unknown whether synchrony might have a similar impact on the social attitudes of children. We thus set to directly examine the influence of synchronous rhythmic interaction on perceived similarity and closeness in pairs of 8-9 year old children. We found that children who had participated in a synchronous interaction regarded their interacting partner as more similar and closer to themselves than children who had not interacted at all or who had taken part in an asynchronous interaction. These findings reveal that synchronous interaction can positively alter social attitudes between interacting children, suggesting a potential mechanism by which synchrony may enhance positive social interaction through attitudinal shift.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tal-Chen Rabinowitch
- Department of Psychology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
- Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Ariel Knafo-Noam
- Department of Psychology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
- * E-mail:
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16
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Kreuz T, Mulansky M, Bozanic N. SPIKY: a graphical user interface for monitoring spike train synchrony. J Neurophysiol 2015; 113:3432-45. [PMID: 25744888 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00848.2014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2014] [Accepted: 02/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Techniques for recording large-scale neuronal spiking activity are developing very fast. This leads to an increasing demand for algorithms capable of analyzing large amounts of experimental spike train data. One of the most crucial and demanding tasks is the identification of similarity patterns with a very high temporal resolution and across different spatial scales. To address this task, in recent years three time-resolved measures of spike train synchrony have been proposed, the ISI-distance, the SPIKE-distance, and event synchronization. The Matlab source codes for calculating and visualizing these measures have been made publicly available. However, due to the many different possible representations of the results the use of these codes is rather complicated and their application requires some basic knowledge of Matlab. Thus it became desirable to provide a more user-friendly and interactive interface. Here we address this need and present SPIKY, a graphical user interface that facilitates the application of time-resolved measures of spike train synchrony to both simulated and real data. SPIKY includes implementations of the ISI-distance, the SPIKE-distance, and the SPIKE-synchronization (an improved and simplified extension of event synchronization) that have been optimized with respect to computation speed and memory demand. It also comprises a spike train generator and an event detector that makes it capable of analyzing continuous data. Finally, the SPIKY package includes additional complementary programs aimed at the analysis of large numbers of datasets and the estimation of significance levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Kreuz
- Institute for Complex Systems, National Research Council, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Mario Mulansky
- Institute for Complex Systems, National Research Council, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Nebojsa Bozanic
- Institute for Complex Systems, National Research Council, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
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17
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Kastellakis G, Cai DJ, Mednick SC, Silva AJ, Poirazi P. Synaptic clustering within dendrites: an emerging theory of memory formation. Prog Neurobiol 2015; 126:19-35. [PMID: 25576663 PMCID: PMC4361279 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2014.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2014] [Revised: 12/29/2014] [Accepted: 12/29/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
It is generally accepted that complex memories are stored in distributed representations throughout the brain, however the mechanisms underlying these representations are not understood. Here, we review recent findings regarding the subcellular mechanisms implicated in memory formation, which provide evidence for a dendrite-centered theory of memory. Plasticity-related phenomena which affect synaptic properties, such as synaptic tagging and capture, synaptic clustering, branch strength potentiation and spinogenesis provide the foundation for a model of memory storage that relies heavily on processes operating at the dendrite level. The emerging picture suggests that clusters of functionally related synapses may serve as key computational and memory storage units in the brain. We discuss both experimental evidence and theoretical models that support this hypothesis and explore its advantages for neuronal function.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Kastellakis
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB), Foundation for Research and Technology, Hellas (FORTH), P.O. Box 1385, GR 70013 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Denise J Cai
- Departments of Neurobiology, Psychology, Psychiatry, Integrative Center for Learning and Memory and Brain Research Institute, UCLA, 2554 Gonda Center, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | - Sara C Mednick
- Department of Psychology, University of California, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, CA 92521, United States
| | - Alcino J Silva
- Departments of Neurobiology, Psychology, Psychiatry, Integrative Center for Learning and Memory and Brain Research Institute, UCLA, 2554 Gonda Center, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | - Panayiota Poirazi
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB), Foundation for Research and Technology, Hellas (FORTH), P.O. Box 1385, GR 70013 Heraklion, Greece.
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18
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Layer- and Area-Specificity of the Adrenergic Modulation of Synaptic Transmission in the Rat Neocortex. Neurochem Res 2014; 39:2377-84. [DOI: 10.1007/s11064-014-1440-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2014] [Revised: 09/10/2014] [Accepted: 09/18/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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19
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Abstract
Layer 5 thick tufted pyramidal cells (TTCs) in the neocortex are particularly electrically complex, owing to their highly excitable dendrites. The interplay between dendritic nonlinearities and recurrent cortical microcircuit activity in shaping network response is largely unknown. We simulated detailed conductance-based models of TTCs forming recurrent microcircuits that were interconnected as found experimentally; the network was embedded in a realistic background synaptic activity. TTCs microcircuits significantly amplified brief thalamocortical inputs; this cortical gain was mediated by back-propagation activated N-methyl-d-aspartate depolarizations and dendritic back-propagation-activated Ca2+ spike firing, ignited by the coincidence of thalamic-activated somatic spike and local dendritic synaptic inputs, originating from the cortical microcircuit. Surprisingly, dendritic nonlinearities in TTCs microcircuits linearly multiplied thalamic inputs—amplifying them while maintaining input selectivity. Our findings indicate that dendritic nonlinearities are pivotal in controlling the gain and the computational functions of TTCs microcircuits, which serve as a dominant output source for the neocortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Etay Hay
- Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences
| | - Idan Segev
- Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences Department of Neurobiology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
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Papoutsi A, Sidiropoulou K, Poirazi P. Dendritic nonlinearities reduce network size requirements and mediate ON and OFF states of persistent activity in a PFC microcircuit model. PLoS Comput Biol 2014; 10:e1003764. [PMID: 25077940 PMCID: PMC4117433 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2013] [Accepted: 06/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Technological advances have unraveled the existence of small clusters of co-active neurons in the neocortex. The functional implications of these microcircuits are in large part unexplored. Using a heavily constrained biophysical model of a L5 PFC microcircuit, we recently showed that these structures act as tunable modules of persistent activity, the cellular correlate of working memory. Here, we investigate the mechanisms that underlie persistent activity emergence (ON) and termination (OFF) and search for the minimum network size required for expressing these states within physiological regimes. We show that (a) NMDA-mediated dendritic spikes gate the induction of persistent firing in the microcircuit. (b) The minimum network size required for persistent activity induction is inversely proportional to the synaptic drive of each excitatory neuron. (c) Relaxation of connectivity and synaptic delay constraints eliminates the gating effect of NMDA spikes, albeit at a cost of much larger networks. (d) Persistent activity termination by increased inhibition depends on the strength of the synaptic input and is negatively modulated by dADP. (e) Slow synaptic mechanisms and network activity contain predictive information regarding the ability of a given stimulus to turn ON and/or OFF persistent firing in the microcircuit model. Overall, this study zooms out from dendrites to cell assemblies and suggests a tight interaction between dendritic non-linearities and network properties (size/connectivity) that may facilitate the short-memory function of the PFC. Working memory, the ability to retain information for a short period of time, is a fundamental cognitive function that shapes behavior. The cellular correlate of working memory is the prolonged spiking (persistent) activity of neurons in the prefrontal cortex. Impairments of prefrontal cortex functionalities and working memory have been associated with a variety of cognitive disorders, such as schizophrenia, the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and drug addiction. Hence, understanding how neurons embedded in the local circuitry support and maintain persistent activity is of outmost importance. Our work uses a multi-level integrative approach spanning from the dendritic, to the neuronal and network levels to identify the key biophysical and anatomical mechanisms contributing to persistent activity, leading to a number of high impact findings: it predicts a tradeoff between dendritic regenerative events and the size of a network expressing persistent activity. It also proposes when and how the persistent state can be stabilized, opening new avenues for pharmacological interventions. Finally, it describes decoding mechanisms for upcoming ON/OFF state transitions, furthering our understanding of information processing in the PFC and shedding new light on the emergence of anticipatory behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athanasia Papoutsi
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB) – Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), Heraklion, Crete, Greece
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Kyriaki Sidiropoulou
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB) – Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), Heraklion, Crete, Greece
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Panayiota Poirazi
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB) – Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), Heraklion, Crete, Greece
- * E-mail:
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21
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Konstantoudaki X, Papoutsi A, Chalkiadaki K, Poirazi P, Sidiropoulou K. Modulatory effects of inhibition on persistent activity in a cortical microcircuit model. Front Neural Circuits 2014; 8:7. [PMID: 24550786 PMCID: PMC3907788 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2014.00007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2013] [Accepted: 01/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Neocortical network activity is generated through a dynamic balance between excitation, provided by pyramidal neurons, and inhibition, provided by interneurons. Imbalance of the excitation/inhibition ratio has been identified in several neuropsychiatric diseases, such as schizophrenia, autism and epilepsy, which also present with other cognitive deficits and symptoms associated with prefrontal cortical (PFC) dysfunction. We undertook a computational approach to study how changes in the excitation/inhibition balance in a PFC microcircuit model affect the properties of persistent activity, considered the cellular correlate of working memory function in PFC. To this end, we constructed a PFC microcircuit, consisting of pyramidal neuron models and all three different interneuron types: fast-spiking (FS), regular-spiking (RS), and irregular-spiking (IS) interneurons. Persistent activity was induced in the microcircuit model with a stimulus to the proximal apical dendrites of the pyramidal neuron models, and its properties were analyzed, such as the induction profile, the interspike intervals (ISIs) and neuronal synchronicity. Our simulations showed that (a) the induction but not the firing frequency or neuronal synchronicity is modulated by changes in the NMDA-to-AMPA ratio on FS interneuron model, (b) removing or decreasing the FS model input to the pyramidal neuron models greatly limited the biophysical modulation of persistent activity induction, decreased the ISIs and neuronal synchronicity during persistent activity, (c) the induction and firing properties could not be altered by the addition of other inhibitory inputs to the soma (from RS or IS models), and (d) the synchronicity change could be reversed by the addition of other inhibitory inputs to the soma, but beyond the levels of the control network. Thus, generic somatic inhibition acts as a pacemaker of persistent activity and FS specific inhibition modulates the output of the pacemaker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xanthippi Konstantoudaki
- Department of Biology, University of Crete Heraklion, Greece ; Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas Heraklion, Greece
| | - Athanasia Papoutsi
- Department of Biology, University of Crete Heraklion, Greece ; Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas Heraklion, Greece
| | - Kleanthi Chalkiadaki
- Department of Biology, University of Crete Heraklion, Greece ; Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas Heraklion, Greece
| | - Panayiota Poirazi
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas Heraklion, Greece
| | - Kyriaki Sidiropoulou
- Department of Biology, University of Crete Heraklion, Greece ; Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas Heraklion, Greece
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