Neuroplasticity
neuroplasticity
Prof. Marcin Szwed
My team is looking for a person who will continue our current research on brain plasticity in deaf individuals. This work uses natural stimuli, for example, in our last experiment, we used half-hour animated movie without dialogue (“The triplets of Belleville”). We offer a possibility to work on a PhD using this novel and exciting research technique (see Hasson et al., Projections, 2008; Baldassano et al.., 2017) in a strong, international scientific team. The research will be a continuation of our previous work on mechanisms of brain plasticity in deaf individuals (Bola et al., 2017, Zimmermann et al., 2021). We plan to use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The project will be carried out in cooperation with the team of prof. Christopher Baldassano (Columbia University, NYC, www.dpmlab.org/), the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAN In Warsaw (prof. Artur Marchewka, lobi.nencki.gov.pl/) and with the Research Laboratory on Polish Sign Language on University of Warsaw (team of prof. Piotr Tomaszewski).
Dr Fleur Zeldenrust
The Biophysics of Neural Computation group led by Fleur Zeldenrust is looking for a PhD candidate to investigate the relation between single neuron properties and neural network function using neural network models. You will use simulation experiments to investigate synaptic plasticity in the mouse somatosensory cortex upon sensory deprivation. You will also look whether the changes in the underlying network affect the accuracy and efficiency of information processing. For more information see: https://www.ru.nl/werken-bij/vacature/details-vacature/?recid=1128867
Tong (Tina) Liu, Ph.D.
A postdoc position is available in the Visual Perception and Plasticity (VPP) lab, led by Dr. Tina Liu, in the Department of Neurology at Georgetown University Medical Center. The VPP lab studies neuroplasticity in both healthy and clinical populations across the lifespan, with a focus on vision. The postdoctoral researcher will play a key role in studies that integrate psychophysics/visual behavior, eye tracking, functional and structural MRI, transcranial electrical stimulation, and computational modeling.
Low intensity rTMS: age dependent effects, and mechanisms underlying neural plasticity
Neuroplasticity is essential for the establishment and strengthening of neural circuits. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is commonly used to modulate cortical excitability and shows promise in the treatment of some neurological disorders. Low intensity magnetic stimulation (LI-rTMS), which does not directly elicit action potentials in the stimulated neurons, have also shown some therapeutic effects, and it is important to determine the biological mechanisms underlying the effects of these low intensity magnetic fields, such as would occur in the regions surrounding the central high-intensity focus of rTMS. Our team has used a focal low-intensity (10mT) magnetic stimulation approach to address some of these questions and to identify cellular mechanisms. I will present several studies from our laboratory, addressing (1) effects of LIrTMS on neuronal activity and excitability ; and (2) neuronal morphology and post-lesion repair. The ensemble of our results indicate that the effects of LI-rTMS depend upon the stimulation pattern, the age of the animal, and the presence of cellular magnetoreceptors.
Maladaptive Neuroplasticity in Cortico-limbic Structures: Insights from Surgical Pain Relief in Chronic Neuropathic Facial Pain
Structural & Functional Neuroplasticity in Children with Hemiplegia
About 30% of children with cerebral palsy have congenital hemiplegia, resulting from periventricular white matter injury, which impairs the use of one hand and disrupts bimanual co-ordination. Congenital hemiplegia has a profound effect on each child's life and, thus, is of great importance to the public health. Changes in brain organization (neuroplasticity) often occur following periventricular white matter injury. These changes vary widely depending on the timing, location, and extent of the injury, as well as the functional system involved. Currently, we have limited knowledge of neuroplasticity in children with congenital hemiplegia. As a result, we provide rehabilitation treatment to these children almost blindly based exclusively on behavioral data. In this talk, I will present recent research evidence of my team on understanding neuroplasticity in children with congenital hemiplegia by using a multimodal neuroimaging approach that combines data from structural and functional neuroimaging methods. I will further present preliminary data regarding functional improvements of upper extremities motor and sensory functions as a result of rehabilitation with a robotic system that involves active participation of the child in a video-game setup. Our research is essential for the development of novel or improved neurological rehabilitation strategies for children with congenital hemiplegia.
Influence of the context of administration in the antidepressant-like effects of the psychedelic 5-MeO-DMT
Psychedelics like psilocybin have shown rapid and long-lasting efficacy on depressive and anxiety symptoms. Other psychedelics with shorter half-lives, such as DMT and 5-MeO-DMT, have also shown promising preliminary outcomes in major depression, making them interesting candidates for clinical practice. Despite several promising clinical studies, the influence of the context on therapeutic responses or adverse effects remains poorly documented. To address this, we conducted preclinical studies evaluating the psychopharmacological profile of 5-MeO-DMT in contexts previously validated in mice as either pleasant (positive setting) or aversive (negative setting). Healthy C57BL/6J male mice received a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of 5-MeO-DMT at doses of 0.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg, with assessments at 2 hours, 24 hours, and one week post-administration. In a corticosterone (CORT) mouse model of depression, 5-MeO-DMT was administered in different settings, and behavioral tests mimicking core symptoms of depression and anxiety were conducted. In CORT-exposed mice, an acute dose of 0.5 mg/kg administered in a neutral setting produced antidepressant-like effects at 24 hours, as observed by reduced immobility time in the Tail Suspension Test (TST). In a positive setting, the drug also reduced latency to first immobility and total immobility time in the TST. However, these beneficial effects were negated in a negative setting, where 5-MeO-DMT failed to produce antidepressant-like effects and instead elicited an anxiogenic response in the Elevated Plus Maze (EPM).Our results indicate a strong influence of setting on the psychopharmacological profile of 5-MeO-DMT. Future experiments will examine cortical markers of pre- and post-synaptic density to correlate neuroplasticity changes with the behavioral effects of 5-MeO-DMT in different settings.
Immature brain insults and possible effects on cholinergic system neuroplasticity
Inducing short to medium neuroplastic effects with Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation
Sound waves can be used to modify brain activity safely and transiently with unprecedented precision even deep in the brain - unlike traditional brain stimulation methods. In a series of studies in humans and non-human primates, I will show that Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation (TUS) can have medium- to long-lasting effects. Multiple read-outs allow us to conclude that TUS can perturb neuronal tissues up to 2h after intervention, including changes in local and distributed brain network configurations, behavioural changes, task-related neuronal changes and chemical changes in the sonicated focal volume. Combined with multiple neuroimaging techniques (resting state functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging [rsfMRI], Spectroscopy [MRS] and task-related fMRI changes), this talk will focus on recent human TUS studies.
Psychedelics and related plasticity-promoting neurotherapeutics
Dr. David E. Olson will give a talk addressed to the Humanitas University Undergraduate Neurological Society students, focusing on his work on psychedelic drugs and related plasticity-promoting neurotherapeutics. The event will begin with a general and brief introduction to the topic by the HUUNS members.
Dynamic structural neuroplasticity in the bilingual brain
Research on the effects of bilingualism on the structure of the brain has so far yielded variable patterns. Although it cannot be disputed that learning and using additional languages restructures the brain, the reported effects vary considerably, including both increases and reductions in grey matter volume and white matter diffusivity. This presentation reviews the available evidence and compares it to patterns from other domains of skill acquisition, culminating in the Dynamic Restructuring Model, a theory which synthesises the available evidence from the perspective of experience-based neuroplasticity. New corroborating evidence is also presented from healthy young and older bilinguals, and the presentation concludes with the implications of these effects for the ageing brain.
Visual and cross-modal plasticity in adult humans
Neuroplasticity is a fundamental property of the nervous system that is maximal early in life, within a specific temporal window called critical period. However, it is still unclear to which extent the plastic potential of the visual cortex is retained in adulthood. We have surprisingly revealed residual ocular dominance plasticity in adult humans by showing that short-term monocular deprivation unexpectedly boosts the deprived eye (both at the perceptual and at the neural level), reflecting homeostatic plasticity. This effect is accompanied by a decrease of GABAergic inhibition in the primary visual cortex and can be modulated by non-visual factors (motor activity and motor plasticity). Finally, we have found that cross-modal plasticity is preserved in adult normal-sighted humans, as short-term monocular deprivation can alter early visuo-tactile interactions. Taken together, these results challenge the classical view of a hard-wired adult visual cortex, indicating that homeostatic plasticity can be reactivated in adult humans.
Wiring & Rewiring: Experience-Dependent Circuit Development and Plasticity in Sensory Cortices
To build an appropriate representation of the sensory stimuli around the world, neural circuits are wired according to both intrinsic factors and external sensory stimuli. Moreover, the brain circuits have the capacity to rewire in response to altered environment, both during early development and throughout life. In this talk, I will give an overview about my past research in studying the dynamic processes underlying functional maturation and plasticity in rodent sensory cortices. I will also present data about the current and future research in my lab – that is, the synaptic and circuit mechanisms by which the mature brain circuits employ to regulate the balance between stability and plasticity. By applying chronic 2-photon calcium and close-loop visual exposure, we studied the circuit changes at single-neuron resolution to show that concurrent running with visual stimulus is required to drive neuroplasticity in the adult brain.
How inclusive and diverse is non-invasive brain stimulation in the treatment of psychiatric disorders?
How inclusive and diverse is non-invasive brain stimulation in the treatment of psychiatric disorders?Indira Tendolkar, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry. Mental illness is associated with a huge socioeconomic burden worldwide, with annual costs only in the Netherlands of €22 billion. Over two decades of cognitive and affective neuroscience research with modern tools of neuroimaging and neurophysiology in humans have given us a wealth of information about neural circuits underlying the main symptom domains of psychiatric disorders and their remediation. Neuromodulation entails the alteration of these neural circuits through invasive (e.g., DBS) or non-invasive (e.g., TMS) techniques with the aim of improving symptoms and/or functions and enhancing neuroplasticity. In my talk, I will focus on neuromodulation studies using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) as a relatively safe, noninvasive method, which can be performed simultaneously with neurocognitive interventions. Using the examples of two chronifying mental illnesses, namely obsessive compulsive disorders and major depressive disorder (MDD), I will review the concept of "state dependent" effects of rTMS and highlight how simultaneous or sequential cognitive interventions could help optimize rTMS therapy by providing further control of ongoing neural activity in targeted neural networks. Hardly any attention has been paid to diversity aspects in the studies. By including studies from low- and middle income countries, I will discuss the potential of non-invasive brain stimulation from a transcultural perspective.
An interdisciplinary perspective on motor augmentation from neuroscience and design
By studying the neural correlates of hand augmentation, we are exploring the boundaries of neuroplasticity seeing how it can be harnessed to improve the usability and control of prosthetic devices. Tamar Makin and Dani Clode each discuss their research and perspectives within the field of prosthetics that has led to this unique collaboration and exploration of motor augmentation and the brain.
The thalamus that speaks to the cortex: spontaneous activity in the developing brain
Our research team runs several related projects studying the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the development of axonal connections in the brain. In particular, our aim is to uncover the principles underlying thalamocortical axonal wiring, maintenance and ultimately the rewiring of connections, through an integrated and innovative experimental programme. The development of the thalamocortical wiring requires a precise topographical sorting of its connections. Each thalamic nucleus receives specific sensory information from the environment and projects topographically to its corresponding cortical. A second level of organization is achieved within each area, where thalamocortical connections display an intra-areal topographical organization, allowing the generation of accurate spatial representations within each cortical area. Therefore, the level of organization and specificity of the thalamocortical projections is much more complex than other projection systems in the CNS. The central hypothesis of our laboratory is that thalamocortical input influences and maintains the functional architecture of the sensory cortices. We also believe that rewiring and plasticity events can be triggered by activity-dependent mechanisms in the thalamus. Three major questions are been focused in the laboratory: i) the role of spontaneous patterns of activity in thalamocortical wiring and cortical development, ii) the role of the thalamus and its connectivity in the neuroplastic cortical changes following sensory deprivation, and iii) reprogramming thalamic cells for sensory circuit restoration. Within these projects we are using several experimental programmes, these include: optical imaging, manipulation of gene expression in vivo, cell and molecular biology, biochemistry, cell culture, sensory deprivation paradigms and electrophysiology. The results derived from our investigations will contribute to our understating of how reprogramming of cortical wiring takes place following brain damage and how cortical structure is maintained.
Effect of environmental enrichment on neuroplasticity
FENS Forum 2024
Effect of high-intensity interval and moderate-intensity continuous training on neuroplasticity, cognition, and sensorimotor performance in aged rats
FENS Forum 2024
Exercise and risperidone intervention improving neuroplasticity in juvenile female rats
FENS Forum 2024
Expansion of epileptogenic networks via neuroplasticity
FENS Forum 2024
Impact of chronic stress and cortisol on hippocampal neuroplasticity: Implications for depression
FENS Forum 2024
Neonatal handling age-dependently modulates social interaction, prepulse inhibition, and frontocortical expression of synaptic and neuroplasticity markers in a genetic rat model of schizophrenia-relevant features
FENS Forum 2024
Neurochemical mechanisms underlying serotonergic modulation of neuroplasticity in humans
FENS Forum 2024
Neuroplasticity and early cochlear implant use in adult-deafened humans and rats
FENS Forum 2024
Novel interdisciplinary intervention approach: Nurturing neuroplasticity through spontaneous unfolding movements
FENS Forum 2024
Studying the effect of chronic peripheral inflammation, via transurethral instillation of LPS, on neuroplasticity
FENS Forum 2024