A5058670673- Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Neural dynamics and brain function
- Photoreceptor and optogenetics research
- Neuroscience and Neural Engineering
- Sleep and Wakefulness Research
- Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Study
- Receptor Mechanisms and Signaling
- Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Ion channel regulation and function
- Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Advanced Memory and Neural Computing
- Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials
- Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
- Neuroscience of respiration and sleep
- Phytochemistry Medicinal Plant Applications
- Cellular transport and secretion
- Luminescence and Fluorescent Materials
- Cholinesterase and Neurodegenerative Diseases
- Zebrafish Biomedical Research Applications
- Neurological disorders and treatments
- Biotin and Related Studies
- Retinal Development and Disorders
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies
- Toxin Mechanisms and Immunotoxins
- Ion Channels and Receptors
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
2017-2024
Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen
2024
Universitätsklinikum Erlangen
2024
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
2024
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
2018-2020
The University of Texas at Austin
2013-2014
Harvard University
2004-2007
Brown University
1995-2003
Harvard University Press
2002
John Brown University
2000-2002
Normal operations of the neocortex depend critically on several types inhibitory interneurons, but specific function each type is unknown. One possibility that interneurons are differentially engaged by patterns activity vary in frequency and timing. To explore this, we studied strength short-term dynamics chemical synapses interconnecting local excitatory neurons (regular-spiking, or RS, cells) with two interneurons: fast-spiking (FS) cells, low-threshold spiking (LTS) cells layer 4 rat...
Neurons of the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) provide inhibitory input to relay cells and generate synchronized activity during sleep seizures. It is widely assumed that TRN interact only via chemical synaptic connections. However, we show many neighboring pairs neurons in rats mice are electrically coupled. In paired-cell recordings, electrical synapses were able mediate close correlations between action potentials when coupling was strong; they could modulate burst-firing states even...
Inhibitory interneurons of the neocortex are electrically coupled to cells same type through gap junctions. We studied spatial organization two types in rat somatosensory cortex: fast-spiking (FS) parvalbumin-immunoreactive (PV+) cells, and low threshold-spiking (LTS) somatostatin-immunoreactive (SS+) cells. Paired recordings layer 4 demonstrated that both probability coupling coefficient drop steeply with intersomatic distance, reaching zero beyond 200 μm. The dendritic arbors FS LTS were...
The existence of electrical synapses between GABAergic inhibitory interneurons in neocortex is well established, but their functional properties have not been described detail. We made whole cell recordings from pairs electrically coupled fast-spiking (FS) or low threshold–spiking (LTS) neurons, and filled some cells with biocytin for morphological reconstruction. Data were used to create compartmental cable models guide mathematical analysis. analyzed the time course amplitude postsynaptic...
Soft and conductive nanomaterials like carbon nanotubes, graphene, nanowire scaffolds have expanded the family of ultraflexible microelectrodes that can bend flex with natural movement brain, reduce inflammatory response, improve stability long-term neural recordings. However, current methods to implant these highly flexible electrodes rely on temporary stiffening agents temporarily increase electrode size stiffness thus aggravating damage during implantation, which lead cell loss glial...
Survival depends on a balance between seeking rewards and avoiding potential threats, but the neural circuits that regulate this motivational conflict remain largely unknown. Using an approach-food vs. avoid-predator threat test in rats, we identified subpopulation of neurons anterior portion paraventricular thalamic nucleus (aPVT) which express corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) are preferentially recruited during conflict. Inactivation aPVTCRF biases animal's response toward food,...
Layer 6 is the main source of neocortical connections back to specific thalamic nuclei. Corticothalamic (CT) systems play an important role in shaping sensory input, but little known about functional circuitry that generates CT activity. We recorded from two types neurons layer 6, regular-spiking (RS; pyramidal neurons) and fast-spiking (FS; inhibitory interneurons) cells compared physiological properties different excitatory inputs. Thalamic stimulation evoked monosynaptic inputs with...
Cholinergic neurons in the basal forebrain and brainstem form extensive projections to a number of thalamic nuclei. Activation cholinergic afferents during distinct behavioral states can regulate neuronal firing, transmitter release at glutamatergic GABAergic synapses, synchrony networks, thereby controlling flow sensory information. These effects are thought be mediated by slow persistent increases extracellular ACh levels, resulting modulation populations over large temporal spatial...
Sensory information reaches the cortex via thalamocortical (TC) synapses in layer 4. Thalamic relay neurons that mediate flow to operate two distinct modes, tonic and burst firing. Burst firing has been implicated enhancing reliability of between individual neurons. However, little is known about how local networks neocortical respond different temporal patterns TC activity. We studied cortical activity evoked by stimulating afferents at frequencies, using a combination electrophysiology...
The N-type Ca channel α 1B subunit is localized to synapses throughout the nervous system and couples excitation release of neurotransmitters. In a previous study, two functionally distinct variants were identified, rnα 1B-b 1B-d , that differ at loci;four amino acids [SerPheMetGly (SFMG)] in IIIS3–S4 [GluThr (ET)] IVS3–S4. These are reciprocally expressed rat brain sympathetic ganglia (Lin et al., 1997a). We now show slower activation kinetics (ΔSFMG/+ET) compared with (+SFMG/ΔET) channels...
1. Many dendrites of pyramidal cells in mature neocortex express active Na+ and Ca2+ conductances. Dendrites are also the target numerous inhibitory synapses. We examined interactions between intrinsic excitability synaptic inhibition using whole cell recordings from apical layer 5 cells. Experiments were performed on slices somatosensory cortex rats. Slices bathed glutamate receptor antagonists 2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid 6,7-dinitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione, maintained at 32-36 degrees...
Neurons release endocannabinoids from their dendrites to trigger changes in the probability of transmitter release. Although such retrograde signaling has been described for principal neurons, as hippocampal pyramidal cells and cerebellar Purkinje (PCs), it not demonstrated local interneurons. Here we tested whether inhibitory interneurons cerebellum, stellate (SCs) basket cells, regulate strength parallel fiber (PF) synapses by releasing endocannabinoids. We found that...
GABAergic neurons in the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) form powerful inhibitory connections with several dorsal nuclei, thereby controlling attention, sensory processing, and synchronous oscillations thalamocortical system. TRN are interconnected by a network of synapses, but their properties role shaping neuronal activity not well understood. Using recording techniques aimed to minimize changes intracellular milieu, we show that synaptic GABA<sub>A</sub> receptor activation triggers...
Cholinergic afferents from the basal forebrain (BF) can influence cortical activity on rapid time scales, enabling sensory information processing and exploratory behavior. However, our understanding of how synaptically released acetylcholine (ACh) influences cellular targets in distinct layers remains incomplete. Previous studies have shown that changes dynamics induced by phasic BF be mediated activation nicotinic ACh receptors (nAChRs) expressed types GABAergic interneurons. In contrast,...
Changes in synaptic strength during ongoing activity are often mediated by neuromodulators. At the synapse between cerebellar granule cell parallel fibers (PFs) and Purkinje cells (PCs), brief bursts of stimuli can evoke endocannabinoid release from PCs GABA interneurons that both inhibit transmission activating presynaptic G-protein-coupled receptors. Studies several brain regions suggest also calcium signals astrocytes, thereby causing them to a transmitter, which acts presynaptically...
Synchronous neuronal activity in the thalamocortical system is critical for a number of behaviorally relevant computations, but hypersynchrony can limit information coding and lead to epileptiform responses. In somatosensory thalamus, afferent inputs are transformed by networks reciprocally connected neurons ventrobasal nucleus (VB) GABAergic thalamic reticular (TRN). These generate oscillatory activity, studies vivo vitro have suggested that oscillations often accompanied synchronous part...
Acetylcholine (ACh) signaling is involved in a wide range of processes, including arousal, attention, and learning. An increasing number studies indicate that cholinergic control these functions highly deterministic, mediated by synaptic afferents generate reliable precise responses postsynaptic neurons. However, mechanisms govern plastic changes strength are poorly understood, even though they likely critical shaping the impact inputs on neuronal networks. We have recently shown thalamic...
Chemogenetic stimulation of the thalamic reticular nucleus increases slow-wave sleep and reduces Aβ accumulation in rodents.
Somatic spiking is known to regulate dendritic signaling and associative synaptic plasticity in many types of large neurons, but it unclear whether somatic action potentials play similar roles small neurons. Here we ask can also influence an electrically compact neuron, the cerebellar stellate cell (SC). Experiments were conducted rat brain slices using a combination imaging electrophysiology. We find that elevate calcium levels SCs. There was little attenuation signals with distance from...