Topic: somatostatin interneurons

Neurons in primary Visual Cortex (V1) have a receptive field (RF) or "center", the region in visual space in which appropriate stimuli drive the neuron to fire. Stimuli surrounding the RF modulate these responses, a phenomenon known as contextual modulation. Here we consider 3 types of contextual modulation: i) classical surround suppression: the response of cells in V1 decreases when the stimulus size is increased beyond the RF size; ii) inverse surround suppression: neurons in layer L2/3 –but not layer L4– of mouse V1 respond to a lack of contrast in their RF when the surround is filled with

Alcoholism has been linked extensively to violence and aggressive behavior. About half of all violent crimes and sexual assaults are committed under the influence of alcohol. However, the underlying neuroanatomical mechanism of this connection remains elusive. Previous research in our group points at the somatostatin neurons in the medial amygdala as a relevant regulator of this behavior. In this work, we have investigated sex-specific behavioral alterations after chronic alcohol intoxication. Also, we have considered neuronal activity changes and introduced an emerging therapeutic target. Onl

Most brain functions rely on constant interactions among specialized brain areas. In primates, synchronized oscillations in distinct frequency bands have been suggested to facilitate the routing of feedforward and feedback signals across hierarchically organized visual areas. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Previous studies in mice identified two distinct visually induced gamma rhythms: a luminance-dependent narrowband high gamma rhythm (~60Hz) in both V1 and higher visual areas and a context-dependent low gamma rhythm (~30Hz) in V1. Our analysis of the open-source A

Proper interneuron migration and distribution are essential for optimal brain function. Disruptions of this process can impair the excitation/inhibition balance, leading to neurodevelopmental disorders. As such, ionizing radiation poses a particular risk to the developing brain, as it can lead to excessive fetal DNA damage and subsequent microcephaly. Although research on radiation-induced microcephaly has mainly focused on glutamatergic excitatory neurons, the impact on GABAergic interneurons is equally crucial. Understanding potential disruptions is essential for comprehensive insights into

Fear-related memory traces are encoded by sparse populations of hippocampal principal neurons that are recruited based on their inhibitory–excitatory balance during memory formation. Later, the re-activation of the same principal neurons can recall the memory. The details of this mechanism are still unclear. Here, we investigated whether disinhibition could play a major role in this process. Using optogenetic behavioral experiments we found that when fear was associated with the inhibition of mouse hippocampal somatostatin positive interneurons, the re-inhibition of the same interneurons could

Understanding the neurobiological alterations associated with neuropathic pain is crucial for treatment interventions, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Neuropathic pain causes many alterations in brain regions, including the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). The mPFC activity is decreased in the neuropathic pain state, which is associated with increased metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) activity in this region. Here, we investigated whether mGluR5 inactivation restores neuropathic pain and, if so, how this inactivation affects local circuits in the mPFC. First, w

Affecting around 10% of world population, chronic pain and its related psychiatric comorbidities are major health issues. Implication of neuropeptides in modulation of pain remains poorly described in the brain. The relaxin-3 (RLN3) neuropeptide displays antidepressant and anxiolytic effects, and our preliminary results indicate an analgesic role in rodents. RLN3 is expressed by nucleus incertus (NI) neurons that project to different cortical (e.g. anterior cingulate cortex (ACC)) and subcortical (e.g. amygdala) areas of pain matrix.We aim at studying the pain modulatory effects of RLN3/RXFP3