Connectomics: a need for comparative studies
AbstractConnectomics, the study of circuit architecture, has the potential to reveal the connectivity of any brain or brain area with single-synapse resolution. This is extremely exciting but at the same time quite daunting. The exciting part is obvious. The daunting part is less so, and relates to the challenge of extracting principles from overwhelming masses of high-resolution data. You might say that it is a nice problem to have, and I will agree. What I will argue here is that, if our goal is to derive from such data a general and theoretical understanding of the brain, we must now more than ever take advantage o...
Source: e-Neuroforum - August 8, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
The blood –brain barrier and its regulation by NF-κB
AbstractThe brain is protected by a tight barrier between the blood and parenchyma. This so-called blood–brain barrier protects the brain from invading pathogens, infiltrating immune cells, and the extravasation of serum proteins. Beside pericytes and astrocytes mainly endothelial cells form this barrier.Inflammation leads to an increase in the permeability of the blood –brain barrier. NF-κB is activated during inflammation and is a key regulator of inflammatory processes. In brain endothelial cells NF-κB protects the blood–brain barrier. Loss of the NF-κB activating protein NEMO in brain endothelial cells lead...
Source: e-Neuroforum - June 1, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
Neuronal pathways of embarrassment
AbstractEmbarrassment is a genuine human emotion that we experience while being publicly exposed in unfavorable situations. The embarrassment we feel informs us how we perform according to prevalent norms and moral values and helps to regulate the impression we make on others. One cornerstone of embarrassment is the capacit y to take another’s perspective and reflect on the thoughts, feelings, and intentions of others. On the neural systems level, these processes of perspective taking are linked to neural activation in the medial prefrontal cortex and precuneus. In addition, the mishap and the expected negative evalu a...
Source: e-Neuroforum - June 1, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
In search of the human engram
This article is concluded with a description of recent translational work on altered content-specific memory representations in the context of Alzheimer’s disease. (Source: e-Neuroforum)
Source: e-Neuroforum - June 1, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
The blood –brain barrier and its regulation by NF-κB
< h3 class= " a-plus-plus " > Abstract < /h3 > < p class= " a-plus-plus " > The brain is protected by a tight barrier between the blood and parenchyma. This so-called blood–brain barrier protects the brain from invading pathogens, infiltrating immune cells, and the extravasation of serum proteins. Beside pericytes and astrocytes mainly endothelial cells form this barrier. < /p > < p class= " a-plus-plus " > Inflammation leads to an increase in the permeability of the blood –brain barrier. NF-κB is activated during inflammation and is a key regulator of inflammatory processes. In brain endothelial cells NF-κB prote...
Source: e-Neuroforum - May 31, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
Neuronal pathways of embarrassment
Abstract
Embarrassment is a genuine human emotion that we experience while being publicly exposed in unfavorable situations. The embarrassment we feel informs us how we perform according to prevalent norms and moral values and helps to regulate the impression we make on others. One cornerstone of embarrassment is the capacity to take another’s perspective and reflect on the thoughts, feelings, and intentions of others. On the neural systems level, these processes of perspective taking are linked to neural activation in the medial prefrontal cortex and precuneus. In addition, the mishap and the expected...
Source: e-Neuroforum - May 17, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
In search of the human engram
This article is concluded with a description of recent translational work on altered content-specific memory representations in the context of Alzheimer’s disease. (Source: e-Neuroforum)
Source: e-Neuroforum - May 17, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
The blood–brain barrier and its regulation by NF-κB
Abstract
The brain is protected by a tight barrier between the blood and parenchyma. This so-called blood–brain barrier protects the brain from invading pathogens, infiltrating immune cells, and the extravasation of serum proteins. Beside pericytes and astrocytes mainly endothelial cells form this barrier.
Inflammation leads to an increase in the permeability of the blood–brain barrier. NF-κB is activated during inflammation and is a key regulator of inflammatory processes. In brain endothelial cells NF-κB protects the blood–brain barrier. Loss of the NF-κB activating protein ...
Source: e-Neuroforum - May 9, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
Neurobiology of food choices —between energy homeostasis, reward system, and neuroeconomics
This article first focuses on neurobiological and hormonal foundations and explains various metabolic short- and long-term signals, such as leptin, insulin, and ghrelin. We then also present genetic factors, which directly or indirectly (via other genes or environmental influences) may affect nutritional status. Since the consumption of high-caloric foods is accompanied by dopamine release and the activation of the brain ’s reward system, we will then present the interdependence of metabolic and reward systems. Last, we will present a neuroeconomic perspective that complements research on metabolic and hedonic feeding re...
Source: e-Neuroforum - March 1, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
Form follows function: actin-binding proteins as critical regulators of excitatory synapses
AbstractActin filaments (F-actin) are the major structural component of excitatory synapses. In excitatory synapses, F-actin is enriched in presynaptic terminals and in dendritic spines, and actin dynamics —the spatiotemporally controlled assembly and disassembly of F-actin—have been implicated in pre- and postsynaptic physiology. Hence, actin-binding proteins that control actin dynamics emerged as important regulators of excitatory synapses linking synaptic function and structure, and therefore t hey are of vital importance for behavior. By the analyses of gene-targeted mice and by loss- and gain-of-function approache...
Source: e-Neuroforum - March 1, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
Impact of the extracellular matrix on plasticity in juvenile and adult brains
AbstractIn the higher vertebrate brain, the delicate balance between structural stabilization and remodeling of synaptic networks changes over the life span. The juvenile brain is characterized by high structural plasticity. A critical step in brain maturation is the occurrence of the extracellular matrix (ECM) that structurally stabilizes neuronal tissue restricting the potential for neuronal remodeling and regeneration. Current research has only begun to understand how this putative limitation of adult neuronal plasticity might impact on learning-related plasticity, lifelong memory reformation and higher cognitive functi...
Source: e-Neuroforum - March 1, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
Neurobiology of food choices —between energy homeostasis, reward system, and neuroeconomics
This article first focuses on neurobiological and hormonal foundations and explains various metabolic short- and long-term signals, such as leptin, insulin, and ghrelin. We then also present genetic factors, which directly or indirectly (via other genes or environmental influences) may affect nutritional status. Since the consumption of high-caloric foods is accompanied by dopamine release and the activation of the brain ’s reward system, we will then present the interdependence of metabolic and reward systems. Last, we will present a neuroeconomic perspective that complements research on metabolic and hedonic feeding re...
Source: e-Neuroforum - February 29, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
Form follows function: actin-binding proteins as critical regulators of excitatory synapses
Abstract
Actin filaments (F-actin) are the major structural component of excitatory synapses. In excitatory synapses, F-actin is enriched in presynaptic terminals and in dendritic spines, and actin dynamics—the spatiotemporally controlled assembly and disassembly of F-actin—have been implicated in pre- and postsynaptic physiology. Hence, actin-binding proteins that control actin dynamics emerged as important regulators of excitatory synapses linking synaptic function and structure, and therefore they are of vital importance for behavior. By the analyses of gene-targeted mice and by loss- and gain-of-f...
Source: e-Neuroforum - January 21, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
Neurobiology of food choices—between energy homeostasis, reward system, and neuroeconomics
This article first focuses on neurobiological and hormonal foundations and explains various metabolic short- and long-term signals, such as leptin, insulin, and ghrelin. We then also present genetic factors, which directly or indirectly (via other genes or environmental influences) may affect nutritional status. Since the consumption of high-caloric foods is accompanied by dopamine release and the activation of the brain’s reward system, we will then present the interdependence of metabolic and reward systems. Last, we will present a neuroeconomic perspective that complements research on metabolic and hedonic feeding reg...
Source: e-Neuroforum - January 18, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
Impact of the extracellular matrix on plasticity in juvenile and adult brains
Abstract
In the higher vertebrate brain, the delicate balance between structural stabilization and remodeling of synaptic networks changes over the life span. The juvenile brain is characterized by high structural plasticity. A critical step in brain maturation is the occurrence of the extracellular matrix (ECM) that structurally stabilizes neuronal tissue restricting the potential for neuronal remodeling and regeneration. Current research has only begun to understand how this putative limitation of adult neuronal plasticity might impact on learning-related plasticity, lifelong memory reformation and high...
Source: e-Neuroforum - January 18, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
