This study aimed to investigate the alterations in brain networks in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) based on a population-specific brain template. Previous studies on AD brain networks using graph theory rarely adopted brain templates specific for certain ethnicities. In this study, patients were divided into 3 groups: AD (n = 24), MCI (n = 27), and healthy

Recent evidence suggests increased activity of the pre-frontal cortex (PFC) is associated with sensorimotor disturbances of standing balance. Here we manipulate sensorimotor inputs and concurrently load cognitive resources in order to investigate the functional role of PFC activity during standing balance, and how this changes with healthy ageing. Healthy younger (n = 24; mean age = 20.8 years) and

Recent studies have shown that manipulating basolateral amygdala (BLA) activity can affect alcohol consumption, particularly following chronic and/or long-term intake. Although the mechanisms underlying these effects remain unclear, the BLA is highly sensitive to emotional stimuli including stress and anxiety. Negative emotional states facilitate alcohol craving and relapse in patients with alcohol

Functional connectivity in EEG resting-state is not stable but fluctuates considerably. The aim of this study was to investigate how efficient information flows through a network, i.e. how resting-state EEG networks are organized and whether this organization it also subject to fluctuations. Differences of the network organization (small-worldness), degree of clustered connectivity, and path length

Hypercapnia promotes an increase in pulmonary ventilation due to the stimulation of brainstem chemosensory cells that are connected to the respiratory network. Among these cells are the raphe serotonergic neurons which widely send projections to distinct central respiratory compartments. Nevertheless, the physiological role of specific raphe serotonergic projections to other chemosensitive sites on

The primate amygdaloid complex (AC) contains projection neurons as well as subsets of interneurons (IN), many of which express calcium-binding proteins, that through their local circuits control the activity of the projection neurons. The inhibitory parvalbumin (PV) and calretinin (CR)-positive (+) AC IN have a crucial role in the appearance of synchronized oscillations in local ensembles of projection

Mutation of the α-thalassemia/mental retardation syndrome X-linked protein, ATRX, causes intellectual disability and is associated with pleiotropic defects including ophthalmological abnormalities. We have previously demonstrated that Atrx deficiency in the mouse retina leads to the selective loss of inhibitory interneurons and inner retinal dysfunction. Onset of the amacrine cell neurodegenerative

Activation of specific neural circuits in different layers of the primate dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is essential for working memory, a core cognitive function. Recurrent excitation between pyramidal neurons in middle and deep layers of the DLPFC contributes to the laminar-specific activity associated with different working memory subprocesses. Excitation between cortical pyramidal neurons

A fundamental task for the auditory system is to process communication sounds according to their behavioral significance. In many mammalian species, pup calls became more significant for mothers than other conspecific and heterospecific communication sounds. To study the cortical consequences of motherhood on the processing of communication sounds, we recorded neuronal responses in the primary auditory

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are highly prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders; however, the neurobiological mechanisms underlying disordered behavior in ASD remain poorly understood. Notably, individuals with ASD have demonstrated difficulties generating implicitly derived behavioral predictions and adaptations. Although many brain regions are involved in these processes, the cerebellum contributes

The p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) is a multifunctional protein that regulates cellular responses to pathological conditions in specific regions of the nervous system. Activation of p75NTR in certain neuronal populations induces proteolytic processing of the receptor, thereby generating p75NTR fragments that facilitate downstream signaling. Expression of p75NTR has been reported in neurons of the

The striatum collects and integrates information from many different areas of the brain and propels this forward to the basal ganglia (BG) output structures. In this way, the striatum is playing a pivotal role in control of voluntary movements and is implicated in debilitating movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease. The functional backbone of the striatum is represented by direct pathway (dSPN)

Electroencephalograph (EEG) signals and graph theory measures have been widely used to characterize the brain functional networks of healthy individuals and patients by calculating the correlations between different electrodes over an entire time series. Although EEG signals have a high temporal resolution and can provide relatively stable results, the process of constructing and analyzing brain functional

Over the past decade there has been an enormous progress in our understanding of fluid and solute transport in the central nervous system (CNS). This is due to a number of factors, including important developments in whole brain imaging technology and computational fluid dynamics analysis employed for the elucidation of glymphatic transport function in the live animal and human brain. In this paper

Buspirone, a partial agonist of the 5-HT1aR, due to potential antinociceptive properties can be useful for abdominal pain treatment in IBS patients. Pain-related effects of buspirone can be mediated by the 5-HT1aRs, located within the nucleus tractus solitarius. The 5-HT1aR involvement in pain transmission within the NTS is unclear. The objective of our study was to evaluate the involvement of the

Postural and movement components must be coordinated without significant disturbance to balance when reaching from a standing position. Traditional theories propose that muscle activity prior to movement onset create the mechanics to counteract the internal torques generated by the future limb movement, reducing possible instability via centre of mass (CoM) displacement. However, during goal-directed

Recent work indicates a role for RING finger protein 11 (RNF11) in Parkinson disease (PD) pathology, which involves the loss of dopaminergic neurons. However, the role of RNF11 in regulating dopamine neurotransmission has not been studied. In this work, we tested the effect of RNF11 RNAi knockdown or overexpression on stimulated dopamine release in the larval Drosophila central nervous system. Dopamine

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a devastating genetic neuromuscular disease. Diffuse neuropathology has been reported in SMA patients and mouse models, however, functional changes in brain regions have not been studied. In the SMNΔ7 mouse model, we identified three types of differences in neuronal function in the cerebellum and motor cortex from two age groups: P7-9 (P7) and P11-14 (P11). Microelectrode

Vestibular nerve afferents are divided into regular and irregular groups based on the variability of interspike intervals in their resting discharge. Most afferents receive inputs from bouton terminals that contact type II hair cells as well as from calyx terminals that cover the basolateral walls of type I hair cells. Calyces have an abundance of different subtypes of KCNQ (Kv7) potassium channels

Imaging and brain stimulation studies seem to correct the classical understanding of how brain networks, rather than contralateral focal areas, control the generation of unimanual voluntary force. However, the scaling and hemispheric-specificity of network activation remain less understood. Using fMRI, we examined the effects of parametrically increasing right-handgrip force on activation and functional

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a heterogeneous group of retinal degenerative diseases in which the final pathological feature is photoreceptor cell apoptosis. Currently, the pathogenesis of RP remains poorly understood and therapeutics are ineffective. 17β-Oestradiol (βE2) is universally acknowledged as a neuroprotective factor in neurodegenerative diseases and has manifested neuroprotective effects

The establishment and maintenance of strong affiliative relationships is fundamental for group cohesion and crucial for overall individual well-being. Empathy is considered a critical process for promoting attachment and the long-term stability of social bonds. However, it is unclear how different modalities of social communication uniquely contribute to the development of empathy. Physical contact

Increased energy food consumption during early-life has been associated with memory impairment. Swimming training has been reported to improve memory processes in rodent models. This study aimed to evaluate whether moderate-intensity swimming training counteracts learning and memory impairment in young mice fed a high-calorie diet during the early-life period. The contribution of hippocampal oxidative

Oculomotor decision making can be investigated by a simple step task, where a person decides whether a target has jumped to the left or the right. More complex tasks include the countermanding task (look at the jumped target, except when a subsequent signal instructs you not to) and the Wheeless task (where the jumped target sometimes then quickly jumps to a new location). Different instantiations

Primates are long-lived, highly social mammals who maintain long-term social bonds and cohesive social groups through many affiliative mechanisms, foremost among them social touch. From birth through adulthood, social touch – primarily mutual grooming – creates and maintains relationships of trust and reliance, which are the basis for individual physical and emotional well-being and reproductive success

Effective clearance of neurotoxic amyloid-beta (Aβ) from the brain is a critical process to prevent Alzheimer’s disease (AD). One major clearance mechanism is Aβ transcytosis mediated by low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) in capillary endothelial cells. A marked loss of endothelial LRP1 is found in AD brains and is believed to significantly impair Aβ clearance. Recently, we demonstrated

Demyelination is a well-known pathological process in CNS disorders such as multiple sclerosis. It provokes progressive axonal degeneration and functional impairments and no efficient therapy is presently available to combat such insults. Recently, we have shown that etazolate, a pyrazolopyridine compound and an α-secretase activator, was able to promote myelin protection and remyelination after cuprizone-induced

Every year the Alzheimer’s Association publishes a report that provides facts and figures indicating the public health, social and economic impact of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In addition, there are a number of reviews on the disease for general readers. Also, at congresses, AD is analyzed at different but not always related levels, leading to an “elephant as seen by blind men situation” for many of

Preconditioning tissue with sublethal ischaemia or hypoxia can confer tolerance (protection) against subsequent ischaemic challenge. In vitro ischaemic preconditioning (IPC) is typically achieved through oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD), whereas hypoxic preconditioning (HPC) involves oxygen deprivation (OD) alone. Here, we report the effects of preconditioning of OGD, OD or glucose deprivation (GD)

The process of valuation assists in determining if an object or course of action is rewarding. Delay discounting is the observed decay of a rewards’ subjective value over time. Encoding the subjective value of rewards across a spectrum has been attributed to brain regions belonging to the valuation and executive control systems. The valuation system (VS) encodes reward value over short and long delays

This study aimed at better understanding the neurochemistry underlying TMS and MRS measurements as it pertains to GABAergic activity following administration of allosteric GABAA receptor agonist lorazepam. Seventeen healthy adults (8 females, 26.0 ± 5.4 years old) participated in a double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled study, where participants underwent TMS and MRS two hours after drug intake

Tau is a microtubule-associated protein that serves as a promoter of microtubule assembly and stability in neuron cells. In a collective group of neurodegenerative diseases called tauopathies, tau processing is altered as a result of gene mutations and post-translational modifications. In particular, in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or AD-like conditions, tau becomes hyperphosphorylated and forms toxic

Excessive exposure to loud noise causes hearing loss and neural plasticity throughout the auditory pathway. Recent studies have identified that non-auditory regions, such as the hippocampus, are also susceptible to noise exposure; however, the electrophysiological and behavioral consequences of noise-induced hearing loss on the prefrontal cortex are unclear. Using chronically-implanted electrodes in

The inner ear, projections, and brainstem nuclei are essential components of the auditory and vestibular systems. It is believed that the evolution of complex systems depends on duplicated sets of genes. The contribution of duplicated genes to auditory or vestibular system development, however, is poorly understood. We describe that Lmx1a and Lmx1b, which originate from the invertebrate Lmx1b-like

Sex differences in METH use exist among human METH users and in animal models of METH addiction. Herein, we tried to identify potential differences in gene expression between female and male rats after Methamphetamine self-administration (METH SA). Rats were trained to self-administer METH using two 3-hours daily sessions for 20 days. Cue-induced drug seeking was measured on withdrawal days 3 (WD3)

Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is the leading cause of death in patients with refractory epilepsy. A proposed risk marker for SUDEP is the duration of post-ictal generalized EEG suppression (PGES). The mechanisms underlying PGES are unknown. Serotonin (5-HT) has been implicated in SUDEP pathophysiology. Seizures suppress activity of 5-HT neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN). We hypothesized

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a neurodegenerative disease preferentially affecting motoneurones. Transgenic mouse models have been used to investigate the role of abnormal motoneurone excitability in this disease. Whilst an increased excitability has repeatedly been demonstrated in vitro in neonatal and embryonic preparations from SOD1 mouse models, the results from the only studies to record in

The visual word form area (VWFA) has been consistently identified as a crucial structure in visual word processing. Nevertheless, it is controversial whether the VWFA represents external visual information (e.g., case information) of visual words. To address that question, we functionally localized VWFA at the group level (gVWFA) and at the individual level (iVWFA), and used multivariate pattern analysis

It has been demonstrated Inhibitor Kappa B Kinase β (IKKβ) facilitates autophagy, which in turn mediates p-Tau protein clearance. However, the specific regulatory mechanism in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) remains unclear. Firstly, AD model was generated by the intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of the Β-amyloid 1–42 (Aβ1–42) peptide. Subsequently, mice were injected with shRNA adenoviral transduction

Suckling-evoked pulsatile release of oxytocin (OT) from the posterior pituitary plays a key role in breastfeeding, which relies on burst-like discharges of OT neurons. To explore cellular mechanisms regulating OT neuronal activity, using lactating rats with pup-deprivation (PD) during postpartum day 1–5, we observed the involvement of prostaglandin, cyclic AMP/protein kinase A (PKA) and hyperpolarization-activated

Protocadherin-19 belongs to the cadherin family of cell surface receptors and has been shown to play essential roles in the development of the vertebrate nervous system. Mutations in human Protocadherin-19 (PCDH19) lead to PCDH19 Female-limited epilepsy (PCDH19 FLE) in humans, characterized by the early onset of epileptic seizures in children and a range of cognitive and behavioral problems in adults

Studies of cortical function-recovery require a comparison between normal and post-stroke conditions that lead to changes in cortical metaplasticity. Focal cortical stroke impairs experience-dependent plasticity in the neighboring somatosensory cortex and usually evokes periinfarct depolarizations (PiDs) – spreading depression-like waves. Experimentally induced spreading depressions (SDs) affect gene

Reversed visual feedback during unimanual training increases transfer of skills to the opposite untrained hand and modulates plasticity in motor areas of the brain. However, it is unclear if unimanual training with reversed visual feedback also affects somatosensory areas. Here we manipulated visual input during unimanual training using left-right optical reversing spectacles and tested whether unimanual

We investigated the effect of full and partial mechanical reperfusion on MMP-9 expression in rat brain following middle cerebral artery occlusion, mimicking mechanical thrombectomy. Using percentage hemispheric lesion volume and oedema as measures, partial reperfusion reduced extent of brain damage caused by MCA occlusion, but the protective effect was less pronounced than with complete reperfusion

CD36 is a membrane protein with wide distribution in the human body, is enriched in the monocyte-macrophage system and endothelial cells, and is involved in the cellular uptake of long chain fatty acids (LCFA) and oxidized low-density lipoproteins. It is also a scavenger receptor, binding hydrophobic amyloid fibrils found in the Alzheimer’s disease (AD) brain. In neurobiology research, it has been

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease with movement disorders including resting tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity, and postural instability. The key pathological features of PD are selective loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in substantial nigra and the presence of Lewy bodies (LBs). Mutations in TMEM230 (transmembrane protein 230) have been recently reported to play a pathological

Abnormal tremors are the most common of all movement disorders. In this review we focus on the role of the cerebellum in Essential Tremor, a highly debilitating but poorly treated movement disorder. We propose a variety of mechanisms driving abnormal burst firing of deep cerebellar nuclei neurons as a key initiator of tremorgenesis in Essential Tremor. Targetting these mechanisms may generate more

Working memory capacity, the amount of information one can hold online in mind, has a central role in cognition. Previous electrophysiological and imaging studies revealed the pivotal role of persistent activity within parietal and frontal regions as the neural foundations underpinning working memory capacity. The best candidate molecules determining persistent activity are the brain’s major excitatory

Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is an important regulator of innate and immune responses, and is involved in the pain process, including neuropathic and cancer pain. The current study demonstrated that inflammatory soup (IS) dural infusions elicited the activation of microglia and astrocytes. In comparison, IS dural infusions induced the upregulation of IL-18 and IL-18R in microglia and astrocytes, respectively

Magnetic particle imaging (MPI) is an emerging imaging technique, which has the potential to provide the sensitivity, specificity and temporal resolution necessary for novel imaging advances in neurological applications. MPI relies on the detection of superparamagnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles, which allows for visualization and quantification of iron or iron-labeled cells throughout a subject. The

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease and is characterized by progressive memory loss and cognitive dysfunction. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to be among the most promising biomarkers and therapeutic targets of AD. Here, we aimed to investigate whether lncRNA BACE1-AS plays a role in the potential mechanisms of AD. The expression of BACE1-AS, miR-214-3p

Status epilepticus (SE) leads to irreversible neuronal damage and consists of a complex pathogenesis that involves oxidative stress and subsequent autophagy. Rosiglitazone has recently been considered as a potential neuroprotective factor in epilepsy because of its antioxidative function. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of rosiglitazone in SE rat models and investigate whether its mechanisms

Mitochondria play a significant role in pathogenesis of clinical depression and their function can be impaired by inflammation and alterations in hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis. Sexual context is also a relevant factor in the incidence of mood disorders, and could have a strong influence during an immune challenge. Therefore, in this study we investigated whether the effects of seven-day lipopolysaccharide