Featured
-
-
Article
| Open Access
A hippocampus-accumbens code guides goal-directed appetitive behavior
The dorsal hippocampus plays an important role for spatial memory, but how its outputs guide behavior is not fully understood. Here, the authors show that nucleus accumbens-specific hippocampal projection neurons carry a highly conjunctive code of spatial and action information that directs spatial reward memory-guided appetitive behaviors.
- Oliver Barnstedt
- , Petra Mocellin
- & Stefan Remy
-
Article
| Open Access
Stimulus encoding by specific inactivation of cortical neurons
How neural ensembles encode information remains poorly understood. Here, the authors identify “offsembles”—neurons that are specifically inactivated by sensory stimuli—which, when combined with “onsemble” neurons that are turned on by the stimulus, provide enhanced encoding power to the cortex.
- Jesús Pérez-Ortega
- , Alejandro Akrouh
- & Rafael Yuste
-
Article
| Open Access
Multisensory flicker modulates widespread brain networks and reduces interictal epileptiform discharges
Repetitive audio-visual stimulation, or sensory flicker, can modulate oscillations in a non-invasive manner. Here the authors demonstrate the potential of flicker in individuals with epilepsy undergoing intracranial seizure monitoring.
- Lou T. Blanpain
- , Eric R. Cole
- & Annabelle C. Singer
-
Article
| Open Access
Multicore fiber optic imaging reveals that astrocyte calcium activity in the mouse cerebral cortex is modulated by internal motivational state
Astrocyte calcium increases can alter brain state, but their dynamics during different behaviors have not been fully described. Here, the authors use multicore fiber optic imaging in freely moving mice to show that astrocyte engagement in behavior is influenced by the motivational state.
- Yung-Tian A. Gau
- , Eric T. Hsu
- & Dwight E. Bergles
-
Article
| Open Access
Subcellular pathways through VGluT3-expressing mouse amacrine cells provide locally tuned object-motion-selective signals in the retina
How the spatial distribution of synapses relates to the subcellular integration and transmission of signals is not fully understood. Here authors combine functional and connectomic analysis to map the subcellular flow of information in retinal amacrine cells.
- Karl Friedrichsen
- , Jen-Chun Hsiang
- & Josh L. Morgan
-
Article
| Open Access
Global spatiotemporal synchronizing structures of spontaneous neural activities in different cell types
Neural mechanisms underlying brain-wide synchronization are not fully understood. Here authors show that traveling waves are prevalent in both excitatory and inhibitory neural populations, more pronounced in glutamatergic neurons, vary across developmental stages, and are associated with functional connections and gene expression.
- Liang Shi
- , Xiaoxi Fu
- & Pengcheng Li
-
Article
| Open Access
Efficient coding of natural images in the mouse visual cortex
Whether mice can perceptually discriminate between texture images, and if so how these stimuli are processed by their visual system, remains an open question. Here, the authors show that mice can visually discriminate between textures and found evidence for ‘efficient coding’, highlighting a correlative link between image statistics, perceptual behavior, and geometrical aspects of neural representations.
- Federico Bolaños
- , Javier G. Orlandi
- & Andrea Benucci
-
Article
| Open Access
Associations between handedness and brain functional connectivity patterns in children
Handedness is thought to be associated with brain asymmetry. Here, the authors show distinct brain functional connectivity associated with left- vs. right-handed children, shedding light on early neural organization and its relationship with handedness.
- Dardo Tomasi
- & Nora D. Volkow
-
Article
| Open Access
Decomposing cortical activity through neuronal tracing connectome-eigenmodes in marmosets
The relationship between neuroanatomical connections and functional activity is still unclear. Using graph signal processing, the authors show neuronal tracing connectome eigenmodes constrain cortical activity in marmosets.
- Jie Xia
- , Cirong Liu
- & Wei Liao
-
Article
| Open Access
Nanobubble-actuated ultrasound neuromodulation for selectively shaping behavior in mice
Ultrasound may be used to non-invasively modulate the brain. Here the authors describe acoustic nanobubble-mediated ultrasound stimulation of specific brain region in male mice.
- Xuandi Hou
- , Jianing Jing
- & Lei Sun
-
Article
| Open Access
Silencing CA1 pyramidal cells output reveals the role of feedback inhibition in hippocampal oscillations
Current approaches possibly cannot unambiguously distinguish the unique contributions of feedback inhibition versus feedforward inhibition to oscillatory events. Here authors show that a loss of CA1 pyramidal cell transmission, resulting in feedback inhibition reduction, leads to spatially triggered high-frequency oscillatory events; these events were like place cells in their spatial extent and localized to small regions in CA1.
- Chinnakkaruppan Adaikkan
- , Justin Joseph
- & Thomas J. McHugh
-
Article
| Open Access
Prefrontal control of superior colliculus modulates innate escape behavior following adversity
Significant aversive experience can cause lasting behavioral changes due to shifts in arousal thresholds and filter mechanisms. Here, in male mice, the authors identify a change in a neural circuit, underlying adversity driven enhanced threat response.
- Ami Ritter
- , Shlomi Habusha
- & Oded Klavir
-
Article
| Open Access
Neural timescales reflect behavioral demands in freely moving rhesus macaques
The functional relevance of neural timescales is not fully understood. Here the authors demonstrate that neural timescales change with behavioral demands in freely moving macaques.
- Ana M. G. Manea
- , David J.-N. Maisson
- & Jan Zimmermann
-
Article
| Open Access
A persistent prefrontal reference frame across time and task rules
The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is involved in rule-coding and long-term memory. Here, the authors identified a stably active neuronal ensemble in the mouse medial PFC in an olfaction-guided spatial memory task, which showed stable tuning to task features across time, rule-reversal, and context changes.
- Hannah Muysers
- , Hung-Ling Chen
- & Marlene Bartos
-
Article
| Open Access
Distinct neurochemical influences on fMRI response polarity in the striatum
The relationship between striatal vascular and neural activity is not fully understood. Here the authors found neuronal activity inadequately explains striatal hemodynamic polarity, challenging classic fMRI interpretations.
- Domenic H. Cerri
- , Daniel L. Albaugh
- & Yen-Yu Ian Shih
-
Article
| Open Access
Gamma oscillatory complexity conveys behavioral information in hippocampal networks
Specific gamma frequency oscillations are supposed to differentially route information within the hippocampal formation. Here, the authors show that while hippocampal gamma oscillations are more diverse than previously reported, this variability is modulated by behavior and learning.
- Vincent Douchamps
- , Matteo di Volo
- & Romain Goutagny
-
Article
| Open Access
Comparative connectomics of dauer reveals developmental plasticity
How the dauer, an alternative developmental stage in nematodes, exhibits distinct behavioral traits remains unclear. Here, the authors reveal the neural circuitry underlying these distinctions by reconstructing the dauer connectome and comparing it with other stages.
- Hyunsoo Yim
- , Daniel T. Choe
- & Junho Lee
-
Article
| Open Access
Induced neural phase precession through exogenous electric fields
The neural mechanisms underpinning phase precession remain poorly understood. Here, the authors demonstrate that exogenously generated oscillatory electric fields in the brain can induce phase precession-like effects on cortical excitability and neural firing.
- Miles Wischnewski
- , Harry Tran
- & Alexander Opitz
-
Article
| Open Access
Specification of neural circuit architecture shaped by context-dependent patterned LAR-RPTP microexons
LAR-RPTPs are presynaptic cell-adhesion proteins that regulate the synaptic properties. Here, LAR-RPTP microexon expression is profiled in region-, cell-type- and circuit-specific contexts and its physiological significance in encoding synaptic architecture is demonstrated.
- Kyung Ah Han
- , Taek-Han Yoon
- & Jaewon Ko
-
Article
| Open Access
Cortical astrocyte N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors influence whisker barrel activity and sensory discrimination in mice
The role of astrocyte NMDA receptor signaling in cortical circuits is unclear. Here, the authors show that NMDA receptors contribute to astrocyte calcium events and support neuronal processing of sensory information that maintains sensory activity in mice.
- Noushin Ahmadpour
- , Meher Kantroo
- & Jillian L. Stobart
-
Article
| Open Access
Heterogeneity of synaptic connectivity in the fly visual system
Whether there is an exception to the homogenous wiring rule in visual systems remain largely unknown. Here authors reveal heterogeneity in the synaptic connectivity of cell types in the fly eye. Thus, parallel units of the eye will compute the same visual input differently.
- Jacqueline Cornean
- , Sebastian Molina-Obando
- & Marion Silies
-
Article
| Open Access
Unsupervised classification of brain-wide axons reveals the presubiculum neuronal projection blueprint
The classification of different types of neurons has been a long-standing challenge in neuroscience. Here, the authors present a strategy to quantify all statistically distinct axonal patterns from a brain region based on their anatomical targeting, with this projection-driven neuron classification informing the functional architecture of the circuit.
- Diek W. Wheeler
- , Shaina Banduri
- & Giorgio A. Ascoli
-
Article
| Open Access
A neurophysiological basis for aperiodic EEG and the background spectral trend
The neural mechanisms that give rise to aperiodic EEG signals remains unclear. Here the authors characterize EEG signals generated by neural processes other than brain rhythms, demonstrating that certain drugs alter EEG signals in ways that confound traditional interpretation.
- Niklas Brake
- , Flavie Duc
- & Gilles Plourde
-
Article
| Open Access
Endogenous cannabinoids in the piriform cortex tune olfactory perception
Whether and how cannabinoid type-1 receptors impact sensory functions in vivo is largely unknown. Here, authors show that their endogenous activity controls network dynamics in the olfactory piriform cortex and the ability of mice to detect odorants.
- Geoffrey Terral
- , Evan Harrell
- & Lisa Roux
-
Article
| Open Access
Inhibitory medial zona incerta pathway drives exploratory behavior by inhibiting glutamatergic cuneiform neurons
The cuneiform nucleus regulates locomotor activity. Here the authors show that this nucleus has a more context-dependent role than previously thought, whereby GABAergic projections from the zona incerta act to promote exploratory behaviour in mice.
- Sandeep Sharma
- , Cecilia A. Badenhorst
- & Patrick J. Whelan
-
Article
| Open Access
A prefrontal-thalamic circuit encodes social information for social recognition
How the brain distinguishes familiar individuals from unfamiliar ones is not fully understood. Here, the authors show that neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex and thalamus encode social information and the two brain areas interact with each other to promote social recognition.
- Zihao Chen
- , Yechao Han
- & Yang Zhan
-
Article
| Open Access
Dorsal hippocampus to nucleus accumbens projections drive reinforcement via activation of accumbal dynorphin neurons
The role of dorsal hippocampus in driving reinforcement remains to be determined. Here, authors show that dorsal hippocampus-driven reinforcing behaviors are mediated via inputs to dynorphin neurons in the dorsal medial nucleus accumbens.
- Khairunisa Mohamad Ibrahim
- , Nicolas Massaly
- & Jose A. Morón
-
Article
| Open Access
Subfield-specific interneuron circuits govern the hippocampal response to novelty in male mice
Hippocampal GABAergic neurons are thought to play a role in processing memories. Here, the authors show that functions of parvalbumin and somatostatin expressing interneurons in mice depend on novelty and differ between hippocampal subfields.
- Thomas Hainmueller
- , Aurore Cazala
- & Marlene Bartos
-
Article
| Open Access
A mesocortical glutamatergic pathway modulates neuropathic pain independent of dopamine co-release
The role of mesocortical pathway in pain modulation is poorly understood. Here, authors show in mice that enhancing ventral tegmental area to prefrontal cortex glutamatergic activity alleviates neuropathic pain independently of dopamine co-release.
- Miao Li
- & Guang Yang
-
Article
| Open Access
Dual electrical stimulation at spinal-muscular interface reconstructs spinal sensorimotor circuits after spinal cord injury
Electrical signals with characteristic parameters for reconstructing neural circuits remain incompletely understood, limiting the therapeutic potential of electrical neuromodulation techniques. Here, the authors demonstrate that dual electrical stimulation at 10–20 Hz rebuilds the spinal sensorimotor neural circuit after spinal cord injury, indicating the characteristic signals of circuit remodeling.
- Kai Zhou
- , Wei Wei
- & Yaobo Liu
-
Article
| Open Access
Lateral hypothalamic glutamatergic inputs to VTA glutamatergic neurons mediate prioritization of innate defensive behavior over feeding
VTA glutamatergic neurons mediate innate defensive behaviors. Here, authors show that suppression of feeding induced by escape responses to threats is mediated by VTA glutamatergic neurons regulated by lateral hypothalamic glutamatergic neurons.
- M. Flavia Barbano
- , Shiliang Zhang
- & Marisela Morales
-
Article
| Open Access
Persistent enhancement of basolateral amygdala-dorsomedial striatum synapses causes compulsive-like behaviors in mice
Compulsivity is associated with many psychiatric disorders including obsessive compulsive disorder. However, the neural circuits that mediate this trait are not clearly defined. Here the authors show that the amygdalostriatal circuit plays a critical role in the pathophysiology of compulsive-like behavior.
- In Bum Lee
- , Eugene Lee
- & Bong-June Yoon
-
Article
| Open Access
Functional neuronal circuits emerge in the absence of developmental activity
How functional neuronal circuits are established during development is not fully understood. Here the authors show, by raising fish in the dark and under anesthesia, that brain activity is not needed for the development of complex, decision-making circuits.
- Dániel L. Barabási
- , Gregor F. P. Schuhknecht
- & Florian Engert
-
Article
| Open Access
Molecular and circuit mechanisms underlying avoidance of rapid cooling stimuli in C. elegans
The mechanisms by which animals respond to rapid cooling stimuli are largely unknown. Here, the authors dissect the molecular and circuit mechanisms underlying rapid cooling-evoked avoidance behavior in C. elegans.
- Chenxi Lin
- , Yuxin Shan
- & Min Guo
-
Article
| Open Access
Petascale pipeline for precise alignment of images from serial section electron microscopy
Segmentation accuracy of serial section electron microscopy (ssEM) images can be limited by the step of aligning 2D section images to create a 3D image stack. Here the authors report a computational pipeline for aligning ssEM images and apply this to a whole fly brain dataset.
- Sergiy Popovych
- , Thomas Macrina
- & H. Sebastian Seung
-
Article
| Open Access
Awake ripples enhance emotional memory encoding in the human brain
The neural dynamics of emotional memory consolidation are not well understood. Here, the authors analyse intracranial recordings from human participants after emotional memory encoding, showing that ripple-locked activity in the amygdala and hippocampus is predictive of subsequent memory.
- Haoxin Zhang
- , Ivan Skelin
- & Jack J. Lin
-
Article
| Open Access
Optimized design and in vivo application of optogenetically functionalized Drosophila dopamine receptors
Designing optogenetically functionalized G protein-coupled receptors (optoXRs) to mimic endogenous signaling in vivo is challenging. Here, the authors optimize the design of optoXRs by considering evolutionary conserved protein interactions, and they employ this approach in fruit flies.
- Fangmin Zhou
- , Alexandra-Madelaine Tichy
- & Peter Soba
-
Article
| Open Access
Static and dynamic coding in distinct cell types during associative learning in the prefrontal cortex
Task-related information in prefrontal cortex is maintained through a heterogeneous population code. The authors show that, during associative learning, the coding scheme in interneurons switches from dynamic to static, while static coding persists in pyramidal cells.
- Francesco Ceccarelli
- , Lorenzo Ferrucci
- & Aldo Genovesio
-
Article
| Open Access
Evidence for increased parallel information transmission in human brain networks compared to macaques and male mice
Differences in information transmission in the brain network between humans and other species are not well understood. Here, the authors apply an information theory approach to structural connectomes and functional MRI and report that human brain networks display more evidence of parallel information transmission compared to macaques and mice.
- Alessandra Griffa
- , Mathieu Mach
- & Enrico Amico
-
Article
| Open Access
The role of experience in prioritizing hippocampal replay
While memory consolidation involves repeated reactivation of past memory traces, it is not fully understood how the brain prioritizes memories for long-term storage during sleep. Here the authors recorded from hippocampal place cells in rats, and find that a novel experience with a longer duration is prioritized for consolidation.
- Marta Huelin Gorriz
- , Masahiro Takigawa
- & Daniel Bendor
-
Article
| Open Access
Isochronic development of cortical synapses in primates and mice
How synapse development correlates with lifespan is unknown. Here, the authors show isochronic synapse development in mouse and primate despite disparate lifespans. As a result, synapse accumulation and reduction finishes in neonatal primates but spans nearly the entire life of the mouse.
- Gregg Wildenberg
- , Hanyu Li
- & Narayanan Kasthuri
-
Article
| Open Access
The claustrum-prelimbic cortex circuit through dynorphin/κ-opioid receptor signaling underlies depression-like behaviors associated with social stress etiology
The stress etiology of depression remains elusive. Here, authors show that dynorphin/KOR signaling-mediated impairment of excitatory synaptic transmission from claustrum to prelimbic cortex PV interneurons contributes to stress-induced depression.
- Yu-Jun Wang
- , Gui-Ying Zan
- & Jing-Gen Liu
-
Article
| Open Access
Resting-state global brain activity affects early β-amyloid accumulation in default mode network
Why β-amyloid plaque initially accumulates in the default mode network of the cortex before Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis is not known. Here, the authors show that this accumulation is associated with a reduction of global brain activity in these regions.
- Feng Han
- , Xufu Liu
- & Xiao Liu
-
Article
| Open Access
Modular interneuron circuits control motion sensitivity in the mouse retina
Interneuron circuits in the retina allow structurally similar retinal ganglion cells to show different responses. Here the authors use an intersectional genetics approach to identify an object motion sensitive amacrine cell subtype in the mouse retina.
- Andrew Jo
- , Sercan Deniz
- & Yongling Zhu
-
Article
| Open Access
Diversity of cortical activity changes beyond depression during Spreading Depolarizations
Spreading depolarizations are classically thought to be associated with depression of cortical activity. Here, authors show variable, from depression to booming, changes in cortical activity during different types of spreading depolarizations.
- Azat Nasretdinov
- , Daria Vinokurova
- & Roustem Khazipov
-
Article
| Open Access
A synaptic corollary discharge signal suppresses midbrain visual processing during saccade-like locomotion
How the visual system differentiates between external motion and sensory input arising from self-motion is poorly understood. Here, the authors investigate how motor-related synaptic signals impact neural activity in a key visual center during locomotion.
- Mir Ahsan Ali
- , Katharina Lischka
- & Johann H. Bollmann
-
Article
| Open Access
Heterogeneous encoding of temporal stimuli in the cerebellar cortex
The frontal cortex shows intricate feedback and feedforward connectivity, but other brain areas such as the cerebellum are thought to exhibit simpler activity profiles. Here, the authors show that rodent cerebellar cortex supports heterogeneity in task-related neuronal activity at a scale similar to that in the cerebral cortex.
- Chris. I. De Zeeuw
- , Julius Koppen
- & Devika Narain
-
Article
| Open Access
Topographic axonal projection at single-cell precision supports local retinotopy in the mouse superior colliculus
Retinotopy can arise from axons or their targets; however, the underlying connectivity pattern remains elusive. Here, the authors use two-photon calcium imaging of retinal ganglion cell axon terminals in the female mouse superior colliculus to identify a high precision of retinotopic tiling at single-cell resolution.
- Dmitry Molotkov
- , Leiron Ferrarese
- & Hiroki Asari
-
Article
| Open Access
Superior colliculus bidirectionally modulates choice activity in frontal cortex
Multiple cortical and subcortical brain regions are implicated in decision-making, yet their causal interactions remain unclear. Here, the authors identified cellular and circuit interactions that bias cortical decision-making dynamics and behavior.
- Alyse Thomas
- , Weiguo Yang
- & Nuo Li
Conjunctive encoding of exploratory intentions and spatial information in the hippocampus