A5009541295- Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Marine animal studies overview
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Neural dynamics and brain function
- Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques
- Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Advanced Chemical Sensor Technologies
- Photoreceptor and optogenetics research
- Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
- Dietary Effects on Health
- Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
- Receptor Mechanisms and Signaling
- Early Childhood Education and Development
- Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
- Neuroscience and Music Perception
- Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Disease
- Abdominal Surgery and Complications
- Appendicitis Diagnosis and Management
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
2016-2025
Institute of Neurobiology
2009
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
2006-2008
Duke University Hospital
2006
Duke Medical Center
2006
University of Chicago
2003
University of Maryland, College Park
1997-1999
Traditional rodent models of Pavlovian fear conditioning assess the strength learning by quantifying freezing responses. However, sole reliance on this measure includes de facto assumption that any locomotor activity reflects an absence fear. Consequently, alternative expressions associative are rarely considered. Here we identify a novel, active response ('darting') occurs primarily in female rats. In females, darting exhibits characteristics learned behavior, appearing during CS period as...
The X-linked neurological disorder Rett syndrome (RTT) presents with autistic features and is caused primarily by mutations in a transcriptional regulator, methyl CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2). Current treatment options for RTT are limited to alleviating some symptoms; hence, more effective therapeutic strategies needed. We identified the tyrosine phosphatase PTP1B as candidate of RTT. demonstrated that PTPN1 gene, which encodes PTP1B, was target MECP2 disruption function associated...
Abstract Neurodevelopmental disorders are marked by inappropriate synaptic connectivity early in life, but how disruption of experience-dependent plasticity contributes to cognitive and behavioural decline adulthood is unclear. Here we show that pup gathering behaviour associated auditory cortical impaired female Mecp2 het mice, a model Rett syndrome. In response learned maternal experience, females exhibited transient changes inhibitory networks typically with limited plasticity. Averting...
Some individuals are resilient, whereas others succumb to despair in repeated stressful situations. The neurobiological mechanisms underlying such divergent behavioral responses remain unclear. Here, we employed an automated method for mapping neuronal activity search of signatures stress the entire mouse brain. We used serial two-photon tomography detect expression c-FosGFP – a marker activation c-fosGFP transgenic mice subjected learned helplessness (LH) procedure, widely model...
The noradrenergic locus coeruleus (LC) mediates key aspects of arousal, memory, and cognition in structured tasks, but its contribution to naturalistic behavior remains unclear. LC activity is thought multiplex distinct signals by superimposing sustained (“tonic”) firing patterns reflecting global brain states, such as arousal anxiety, rapidly fluctuating (“phasic”) bursts signaling discrete behaviorally significant events. Manipulations the system broadly impair social behavior, temporal...
For many mammals, individual recognition of conspecifics relies on olfactory cues. Certain memories are thought to be stored when conspecific odor cues coincide with surges noradrenaline (NA) triggered by intensely arousing social events. Such familiar stimuli elicit reduced behavioral responses, a change likely related NA-dependent plasticity in the bulb (OB). In addition its role these ethological memories, NA signaling OB appears relevant for discrimination more arbitrary odorants as...
The locus coeruleus (LC) is the primary source of noradrenaline (NA) in brain and its activity essential for learning, memory, stress, arousal, mood. LC-NA neuron varies over sleep-wake cycle, with higher during wakefulness, correlating increased CSF NA levels. Whether spontaneous burst firing neurons active inactive periods controlled by mechanisms independent wakefulness natural sleep, currently unknown. Here, using multichannel vivo electrophysiology under anesthesia, we assessed adult...
Sensory systems may adapt to behavioral requirements through state-dependent changes. In the forebrain song-system nucleus HVc of zebra finches, auditory responses have been described in multiunit recordings. Here we report on changes activity distinct neuronal classes. projection neurons were identified by electrically stimulating HVc's target nuclei, robust archistriatum and Area X, anesthetized finches. Projection two classes putative interneurons could be distinguished basis...
The neurodevelopmental disorder Rett syndrome is caused by mutations in the gene Mecp2 Misexpression of protein MECP2 thought to contribute neuropathology causing dysregulation plasticity. Female heterozygous mutants (Mecp2het ) failed acquire a learned maternal retrieval behavior when exposed pups, an effect linked disruption parvalbumin-expressing inhibitory interneurons (PV) auditory cortex. Nevertheless, how dysregulated PV networks affect neural activity dynamics that underlie cortical...
Sensory responses are modulated by internal factors including attention, experience, and brain state. This is partly due to fluctuations in neuromodulatory input from regions such as the noradrenergic locus ceruleus (LC) brainstem. LC activity changes with arousal modulates sensory processing, cognition, memory. The main olfactory bulb (MOB) richly targeted fibers noradrenaline profoundly influences MOB circuitry odor-guided behavior. Noradrenaline-dependent plasticity affects output of MOB;...
Abstract The brainstem region, locus coeruleus (LC), has been remarkably conserved across vertebrates. Evolution woven the LC into wide-ranging neural circuits that influence functions as broad autonomic systems, stress response, nociception, sleep, and high-level cognition among others. Given this conservation, there is a strong possibility activity inherently similar species, furthermore age, sex, brain state similarly species. degree to which homogenous these factors, however, never...
Cholinergic activation profoundly affects vertebrate forebrain networks, but pathway, cell type, and modality specificity remain poorly understood. Here we investigated cell-specific cholinergic modulation of neurons in the zebra finch song control nucleus HVC using vitro whole recordings. The contains projection that exclusively project to either another motor RA (robust arcopallium) (HVC-RAn) or basal ganglia Area X (HVC-Xn) these populations are synaptically coupled by a network GABAergic...
Social sensitivity to other individuals in distress is crucial for survival. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) a structure involved making behavioral choices and influenced by observed pain or distress. Nevertheless, our understanding of the neural circuitry underlying this incomplete. Here, we reveal unexpected sex-dependent activation ACC when parental mice respond distressed pups returning them nest ("pup retrieval"). We observe sex differences interactions between excitatory inhibitory...
SUMMARY Social encounters are inherently multimodal events, yet how and where social cues of distinct sensory modalities merge interact in the brain is poorly understood. When their pups wander away from nest, mother mice use a combination vocal olfactory signals emitted by to locate retrieve them. Previous work revealed emergence multisensory interactions auditory cortex (AC) both dams virgins who co-habitate with (‘surrogates’). Here we identify neural pathway that integrates information...
In the Bruce effect, a mated female mouse becomes resistant to pregnancy-blocking effect of stud. Various lines evidence suggest that this form behavioral imprinting results from reduced sensitivity female's accessory olfactory bulb (AOB) stud's chemosignals. However, AOB's combinatorial code implies diminishing responses one individual will distort representations other stimuli. Here, we record extracellular AOB neurons in and unmated mice while presenting urine stimuli stud sources. We...
Mutations in MECP2 cause the neurodevelopmental disorder Rett syndrome. codes for methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MECP2), a transcriptional regulator that activates genetic programs experience-dependent plasticity. Many neural and behavioral symptoms of syndrome may result from dysregulated timing thresholds As model adult plasticity, we examine changes to auditory cortex inhibitory circuits female mice when they are first exposed pups; this plasticity facilitates responses pups emitting...