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Applying cell typespecific optical and pharmacogenetic techniques to the mouse hippocampus in vitro, Lovett-Barron and colleagues show that dendritic inhibition of CA1 pyramidal cells regulates the transformation of synaptic input into action potential output by gating local dendritic electrogenesis. The cover depicts the CA1 region of the dorsal hippocampus, with the sources of synaptic excitation (CA3 Schaffer Collateral axons; green) and inhibition (local GABAergic interneurons; red) to CA1 pyramidal cells.346423
How do we make decisions? A study uses MEG to provide the spatial as well as the temporal resolution needed to answer this question, together with computational modeling, which allows for complex non-linear decision models. This work helps resolve some of the seemingly contradictory results from previous work.
A single amino acid residue determines single-channel conductance, ion permeation and channel block in the NMDA receptor, three of the key features of this ligand-gated ion channel.
The primary cilium, a signal transduction organelle, is present on the cell bodies of adult-born dentate gyrus granule cells as they begin maturation. In its absence, their maturation and integration are impaired.
A synthesis of opto- and pharmacogenetics is beginning to reveal how various interneuron types direct incoming traffic in the hippocampus to help create a map of the environment.
This review article discusses the basis of β-amyloid's contribution to Alzheimer's disease pathology and critically examines the toxic Aβ oligomer hypothesis.
Here the authors review evidence suggesting that cocaine-induced changes in orbitofrontal cortex disrupt the representation of states and transition functions that form the basis of flexible behavioral control, resulting in reliance on less flexible control systems and consequently in the pattern of maladaptive behaviors associated with cocaine addiction.
This study uncovers a previously unknown function of Slit2, a known axonal guidance molecule, and Robo receptors in regulating fasciculation of motor axons during muscle target innervation.
Cortical states regulate behavior, but the network mechanisms underlying cortical states are unknown. Here the authors show that the desynchronized cortical state that occurs during active behavior is driven by an increase in thalamic firing independent of sensory input, which can be mimicked by optogenetic stimulation of the thalamus.
In this study, the authors show that mDia1 and mDia3 are necessary for the tangential migration of interneuron precursors, but are dispensable for radial migration. These proteins act via a Rho/ROCK-mediated pathway to regulate F-actin accumulation and nuclear translocation.
In this study, the authors show that Psd-95 mRNA is regulated by an alternative splicing and nonsense-mediated decay mechanism involving PTBP1 and PTBP2. The downregulation of these proteins with development allows for the expression of PSD-95 and synaptic maturation.
Slit and NTRK-like family member (Slitrk) proteins are known to have typical peptide signatures for synaptogenic cell adhesion. This study reveals a specific function of Slitrk3 and tyrosine phosphatase receptor PTPδ transynaptic interaction in inhibitory synaptogenesis and excitatory and inhibitory balance.
The authors describe the role of the primary cilium in the synaptic integration of adult-born hippocampal neurons. Preventing cilia formation in adult-born neurons causes deficits in dendritic refinement and synaptic formation.
The authors investigate the basis of the variations in the channel properties of NMDAR subtypes and report that the specificity of the Mg2+ block, the selective permeability to Ca2+ and the single-channel conductance are all primarily controlled by the residue at a single GluN2 site in the M3 transmembrane region.
The authors report that a developmental increase in the 4-sulfation/6-sulfation ratio of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans modulates the maturity of parvalbumin-expressing interneurons and leads to the termination of the critical period for ocular dominance plasticity in the mouse visual cortex.
The authors use optical activation and cell type–specific pharmacogenetic silencing in vitro to show that dendritic inhibition critically regulates input-output transformations in mouse hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells. Dendrite-targeting interneurons are themselves modulated by interneurons targeting pyramidal cell somata.
This study shows that the interaction between metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) and a specific form of the scaffolding protein Homer contributes to the behavioral and physiological defects in the mouse model of fragile X syndrome.
This study uses computational modeling of the interaction between two optic-flow processing neurons (Vi and H1) in the fly to examine the effect of synaptic coupling on stimulus processing. Analysis by a generative model shows that coupling enhances encoding of optic-flow in Vi such that the information per spike is maximized.
Recording in the rat primary visual cortex, this study finds that after repeated exposure to a light spot moving along the same path, just seeing the static spot at its start position is sufficient to cause the sequence of activity associated with the movements of the spot along its path. This activity may contribute to cue-triggered recall of learned sequences.
Using direct recordings in monkeys, the authors find that theta-band synchronization between V4 and prefrontal cortex is likely to be important for the maintenance of short-term visual memory. These synchronizations provide a means for distant cortical areas to communicate with each other during the performance of a cognitive task.
This study demonstrates that visual crowding (the inability to identify objects in clutter) develops as a result of interactions between peripheral attention and saccade-induced image displacements. The authors suggest that this offers a much more generalized explanation for the phenomenon of visual crowding.
This study uses a combination of computational modeling and magnetoencephalography to track activity while people make decisions, and finds that prefrontal and parietal cortex activity is consistent with mutual inhibition between competing options during decision-making. This activity is likely to represent a mechanism for the comparison of values while making choices.
In this study, the authors direct human iPS and ES cells to adopt cortical progenitor and, subsequently, mature projection neurons with functional synaptic connections. This protocol is able to generate both deep and upper layer neurons in proper temporal order.
Using several lines of retinal cell type–specific GENSET BAC transgenic GFP mice, the authors segregated these retinal cell types then subjected them to transcriptome microarray analysis to provide a transcriptional 'barcode' of retinal cell identity.