Topic: excitation/inhibition balance

Power spectra of local field potentials contain an aperiodic component that is believed to reflect the excitation/inhibition balance. Several studies have indicated that the aperiodic exponent is sensitive to levodopa in Parkinson’s disease, but there is no clear evidence of its relationship to PD motor symptoms. This study aims to explore the correlation between the aperiodic exponent of subthalamic nucleus activity and rigidity and bradykinesia.Fourteen PD patients underwent bilateral STN DBS surgery with temporary leads externalization. LFPs were recorded in OFF and ON states several days a

Schinzel-Giedion syndrome (SGS), a rare developmental disorder characterized by congenital anomalies, intellectual impairment and epilepsy, is attributed to de novo point mutations affecting SET binding protein 1 (SETBP1). These mutations lead to pathological protein accumulation, triggering a cascade of downstream effects, partially understood. Considering the significant neurological consequences of such germline mutations, it is reasonable to speculate that SETBP1 plays a crucial role during central nervous system development, although limited data are available. To dissect SGS epileptogene

Neuroplasticity refers to functional and structural changes in brain regions in response to healthy and pathological activity. Neuroplasticity induced by epileptic activity can involve healthy brain regions into the epileptogenic network by perturbing their excitation/inhibition balance. Here, we present a new neural mass model that accounts for neuroplasticity and that is used to investigate the possible mechanisms underlying the epileptogenic network expansion. We formulate physiological calcium-mediated synaptic plasticity and pathological structural plasticity in a multiple-timescale frame

Approximately 25% of all cortical neurons are inhibitory interneurons, with somatostatin-positive interneurons (SST+ interneurons) representing a distinct subtype expressing both somatostatin and GABA. These cells form synapses with pyramidal neurons and other interneurons, crucial for modulating cortical information processing and maintaining excitation/inhibition balance. Originating from the medial ganglionic eminence, SST+ interneurons follow a tangential pathway to the cortex, making them susceptible to gene mutations affecting neuronal migration. One such gene, Platelet-activating factor

Trait anxiety is a major risk factor for anxiety and stress-induced disorders in humans. However, animal models accounting for the inter-individual variability in stress vulnerability are largely lacking. Moreover, the pervasive bias of using mostly male animals in preclinical studies poorly reflects the increased prevalence of psychiatric disorders in women. Based on the threat imminence continuum theory, we designed and validated an auditory aversive conditioning-based pipeline in both female and male inbred mice. We operationalized trait anxiety by harnessing the naturally occurring variabi

The perirhinal cortex (PER) integrates and transfers information from cortical areas to the hippocampus, which is crucial for memory-related tasks, particularly novel object recognition. However, how the PER gates information transfer is largely unknown. During learning and novelty-induced exploration, the locus coeruleus releases noradrenaline, a candidate for modulating synaptic plasticity within the PER. We explored the hypothesis that noradrenaline could transiently increase the excitability of the PER network, enhancing information transfer toward the hippocampus and ultimately leading to

Recent studies have revealed an unexpected contribution of oligodendroglial cells to inhibitory circuit establishment and function. Yet, the entire spectrum of oligodendroglia-interneuron interactions as well as the impact of oligodendroglia loss or dysfunction on the development of the inhibitory system are still open issues.Here, we exploited two mouse models where the germinal or the oligodendroglia-specific deletion of citron kinase (i.e. Cit-k KO or Sox10Cre::Cit-k fl/fl mice) leads to the selective ablation of cortical oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) during the first two weeks of