Brain plasticity

Within the broad theme of brain plasticity, this work explores a dimension that has not received as much research attention thus far - activity dependent changes in myelin. Myelin acts to speed up axonal conduction. Until recently, the dogma of the field was that myelination was part of a developmental program that set up the neural circuitry, after which it remained static; however, the past decade of research has begun to reveal that myelin plasticity continues well into adulthood, is modulated in an activity dependent manner, and contributes to skill learning. The first part of our study is

…has been shown to regulate adult brain plasticity, caffeine impact on postnatal neurogenesis and synaptogenesis remains elusive. Thus, the main goal of this work was to dissect caffeine effects on the differentiation and maturation of postnatal NSCs into neurons.Our results indicate

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) plays a key role in learning and brain plasticity by regulating functional connectivity and oscillatory activity in local circuits and global brain networks. Altered cortical inhibition is associated with perceptual and learning impairments in psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia. Despite the importance of GABAergic inhibition for brain function, we lack a mechanistic understanding of the inhibitory network dynamics that support adaptive behaviour from training. To unravel these mechanisms, we developed a progressive 3-stimuli touchscreen orientation discr

…and cortisol and decreased levels of Brain-Derived-Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) suggesting that these mediators might be involved in the occurrence of affective episodes disrupting brain plasticity. Aim of the study was to assess variations in peripheral neuroendocrine and inflammatory markers during acute phases of the disease and euthymia as possible predictors of affective episodes and as a reliable signature of the disease. BD patients were enrolled during depressive or manic/hypomanic phases

…transcriptome-wide signatures in this brain area with robust changes in genes important for neuronal plasticity, including the metabotropic glutamate receptor-2 (mGlu2), and insulin signaling pathways after chronic stress, and that these changes are ameliorated by short-term administration of LAC. Here, we used 10X Genomics droplet-base

Neuronal oscillations can be used to understand brain plasticity phenomena during trauma. The oscillations of local field potentials (LFP) represent the phasing of the membrane potentials of different types of neurons at both the cortical and subcortical levels. In this project, we have studied the plasticity process that occurs in the primary visual cortex following monocular enucleation in mice using LFP recordings. To elicit a response in V1, animals are subjected to protocols of visual, auditory, and somatosensory stimulation while the electrode remains in the same location (figure). We ha

…mimicking UTI on neurogenesis and brain plasticity. Here, we aim to investigate the effect of chronic peripheral inflammation via lipopolysaccharide (LPS) instillation in the urothelium on c

…functions including regulating adult brain plasticity. Removal of PNNs in adult mice by the bacterial enzyme chondroitinase ABC restores brain plasticity levels to that of juveniles. However, chondroitinase ABC indiscriminately degrades all chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans in the extracellular matrix, its effect is not restricted to PNNs. In contrast, several endogenous metalloproteinases specifically target PNN components. Some of these are selectively expressed in PNN-

…during postnatal development in many brain areas. These nets are preferentially established around Parvalbumin-positive GABAergic interneurons (PVIs), and their presence reduces brain plasticity. PNN and PVI expression is altered in various neuropsychiatric disorders and in some cases their manipulation

…cycle exert powerful effects on the brain and behavior, and confer female-specific risks for neuropsychiatric conditions. In this talk, Dr. Kundakovic will discuss the role of fluctuating ovarian hormones as a critical biological factor contributing to the increased depression and anxiety risk in women. Cycling ovarian hormones drive brain and behavioral plasticity in both humans and rodents, and the talk will focus on animal studies in Dr. Kundakovic’s lab that are revealing the molecular and receptor mechanisms that underlie this fema

…fails in the progressive MS brain and developing new regenerative approaches is a key priority for the Pluchino Lab. In particular, we aim to elucidate how the immune system, i

Microglia are the immune cells of the brain, and play increasingly appreciated roles in synapse formation, brain plasticity, and cognition. A growing appreciation that the immune system involved in diseases like schizophrenia, epilepsy, and neurodegenerative diseases has led to renewed interest in how microglia regulate synaptic connectivity. Our group previously identified the IL-1 family cytokine Interleukin-33 (IL-33) as a novel regulator of microglial activation and function. I will discuss a mechanism by which microglia regulate synaptic plasticity and long-term memories by engulfing brai

…a read-out of, local and long-range brain connectivity. In fact, slow waves do not only track changes related to both experience-dependent plasticity and brain maturation during development, but also appear to be actively involved in the fine regulation of brain plasticity and