Spontaneous
activity
drives
the
establishment
of
appropriate
connectivity
in
different
circuits
during
brain
development.
In
mouse
primary
visual
cortex,
two
distinct
patterns
spontaneous
occur
before
vision
onset:
local
low-synchronicity
events
originating
retina
and
global
high-synchronicity
cortex.
We
sought
to
determine
contribution
these
jointly
organize
network
through
activity-dependent
plasticity
rules.
postulated
that
shape
cortical
input
selectivity
topography,
while
homeostatically
regulate
connection
strength.
However,
generate
robust
selectivity,
we
found
should
adapt
their
amplitude
history
preceding
activation.
confirmed
this
prediction
by
analyzing
vivo
activity.
The
predicted
adaptation
leads
sparsification
on
a
slower
timescale
development,
demonstrating
remarkable
capacity
developing
sensory
cortex
acquire
sensitivity
inputs
after
eye-opening.
Annual Review of Neuroscience,
Journal Year:
2019,
Volume and Issue:
43(1), P. 1 - 30
Published: July 12, 2019
Cortical
interneurons
display
striking
differences
in
shape,
physiology,
and
other
attributes,
challenging
us
to
appropriately
classify
them.
We
previously
suggested
that
interneuron
types
should
be
defined
by
their
role
cortical
processing.
Here,
we
revisit
the
question
of
how
codify
diversity
based
upon
division
labor
function
as
controllers
information
flow.
suggest
developmental
trajectories
provide
a
guide
for
appreciating
argue
subtype
identity
is
generated
using
configurational
(rather
than
combinatorial)
code
transcription
factors
produce
attractor
states
underlying
gene
regulatory
network.
present
our
updated
three-stage
model
specification:
an
initial
cardinal
step,
allocating
into
few
major
classes,
followed
definitive
refinement,
creating
subclasses
settling
within
cortex,
lastly,
state
determination,
reflecting
incorporation
functional
circuit
ensembles.
close
discussing
findings
indicating
classes
are
both
evolutionarily
ancient
conserved.
propose
complexity
circuits
phylogenetically
old
types,
complemented
evolutionary
increase
principal
neuron
diversity.
This
suggests
natural
neurobiological
definition
might
derived
from
match
between
origin
computational
function.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
121(25)
Published: June 13, 2024
Cortical
networks
exhibit
complex
stimulus–response
patterns
that
are
based
on
specific
recurrent
interactions
between
neurons.
For
example,
the
balance
excitatory
and
inhibitory
currents
has
been
identified
as
a
central
component
of
cortical
computations.
However,
it
remains
unclear
how
required
synaptic
connectivity
can
emerge
in
developing
circuits
where
synapses
neurons
simultaneously
plastic.
Using
theory
modeling,
we
propose
wide
range
response
properties
arise
from
single
plasticity
paradigm
acts
at
all
connections—Hebbian
learning
is
stabilized
by
synapse-type-specific
competition
for
limited
supply
resources.
In
plastic
circuits,
this
enables
formation
decorrelation
inhibition-balanced
receptive
fields.
Networks
develop
an
assembly
structure
with
stronger
connections
similarly
tuned
normalization
orientation-specific
center-surround
suppression,
reflecting
stimulus
statistics
during
training.
These
results
demonstrate
self-organize
into
functional
suggest
essential
role
competitive
development
circuits.
Nature Communications,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
16(1)
Published: March 18, 2025
The
mediodorsal
(MD)
thalamus
is
a
critical
partner
for
the
prefrontal
cortex
(PFC)
in
cognitive
control.
Accumulating
evidence
has
shown
that
MD
regulates
task
uncertainty
decision
making
and
enhance
flexibility.
However,
computational
mechanism
of
this
process
remains
unclear.
Here
we
trained
biologically-constrained
models
to
delineate
mechanistic
role
context-dependent
making.
We
show
addition
feedforward
structure
recurrent
PFC
increases
robustness
low
cueing
signal-to-noise
ratio,
enhances
working
memory,
enables
rapid
context
switching.
Incorporating
genetically
identified
thalamocortical
connectivity
interneuron
cell
types
into
model
replicates
key
neurophysiological
findings
task-performing
animals.
Our
reveals
mechanisms
geometric
interpretations
regulating
cue
switching
enable
makes
experimentally
testable
predictions
linking
deficits
with
disrupted
connectivity,
excitation-inhibition
imbalance
dysfunctional
inhibitory
types.
by
which
activity
flexibility
not
fully
understood.
authors
build
incorporating
Together
experimental
testing,
circuit
The
extensive
feedback
from
the
auditory
cortex
(AC)
to
inferior
colliculus
(IC)
supports
critical
aspects
of
behavior
but
has
not
been
extensively
characterized.
Previous
studies
demonstrated
that
activity
in
IC
is
altered
by
focal
electrical
stimulation
and
pharmacological
inactivation
AC,
these
methods
lack
ability
selectively
manipulate
projection
neurons.
We
measured
effects
selective
optogenetic
modulation
cortico-collicular
projections
on
sound
responses
mice.
Activation
increased
spontaneous
decreased
stimulus
selectivity
IC,
whereas
suppression
had
no
effect.
To
further
understand
how
microcircuits
AC
may
control
collicular
activity,
we
optogenetically
modulated
different
cortical
neuronal
subtypes,
specifically
parvalbumin-positive
(PV)
somatostatin-positive
(SST)
inhibitory
interneurons.
found
modulating
either
type
interneuron
did
affect
sound-evoked
activity.
Combined,
our
results
identify
activation
excitatory
projections,
inhibition-driven
changes
affects
responses.
Frontiers in Neuroscience,
Journal Year:
2020,
Volume and Issue:
14
Published: June 17, 2020
Amyotrophic
lateral
sclerosis
(ALS)
is
a
fatal
disease,
characterized
by
the
degeneration
of
both
upper
and
lower
motor
neurons.
Despite
decades
research,
we
still
to
date
lack
cure
or
disease
modifying
treatment,
emphasizing
need
for
much-improved
insight
into
mechanisms
cell
type
vulnerability.
Altered
neuronal
excitability
common
phenomenon
reported
in
ALS
patients,
as
well
animal
models
but
cellular
circuit
processes
involved,
causal
relevance
those
observations
molecular
alterations
typical
final
death,
remain
poorly
understood.
Here,
review
evidence
from
clinical
studies,
specific
electrophysiological
recordings,
genetic
manipulations
characterizations
culture
experiments,
arguing
complex
structure,
function
connectivity
different
subtypes
within
cortical
spinal
cord
circuitries.
We
also
summarize
current
knowledge
regarding
detrimental
role
astrocytes
reassess
frequently
proposed
hypothesis
glutamate-mediated
excitotoxicity
with
respect
changes
excitability.
Together,
these
findings
suggest
multifaceted
type-
,
brain
area-
stage-
disturbances
excitation/inhibition
balance
cardinal
aspect
pathophysiology.
Nucleic Acids Research,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
51(D1), P. D805 - D815
Published: Oct. 6, 2022
Abstract
Aging
is
a
complex
process
that
accompanied
by
molecular
and
cellular
alterations.
The
identification
of
tissue-/cell
type-specific
biomarkers
aging
elucidation
the
detailed
biological
mechanisms
aging-related
genes
at
single-cell
level
can
help
to
understand
heterogeneous
design
targeted
anti-aging
therapeutics.
Here,
we
built
AgeAnno
(https://relab.xidian.edu.cn/AgeAnno/#/),
knowledgebase
single
cell
annotation
in
human,
aiming
provide
comprehensive
characterizations
for
across
diverse
tissue-cell
types
human
using
RNA
ATAC
sequencing
data
(scRNA
scATAC).
current
version
houses
1
678
610
cells
from
28
healthy
tissue
samples
with
ages
ranging
0
110
years.
We
collected
5580
previous
resources
performed
dynamic
functional
annotations
context.
For
scRNA
data,
analyses
include
differential
gene
expression,
variation
coefficient,
communication
network,
transcription
factor
(TF)
regulatory
immune
proportionc.
also
provides
chromatin
accessibility
analysis,
motif/TF
enrichment
footprint
co-accessibility
peak
analysis
scATAC
data.
will
be
unique
resource
systematically
characterize
it
could
facilitate
antiaging
disease
research.
Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
15
Published: Aug. 15, 2023
Alzheimer’s
disease
(AD)
is
a
progressive
neurodegenerative
disorder
primarily
affecting
cognitive
functions.
However,
sensory
deficits
in
AD
start
to
draw
attention
due
their
high
prevalence
and
early
onsets
which
suggest
that
they
could
potentially
serve
as
diagnostic
biomarkers
even
contribute
the
progression.
This
literature
review
examines
cortical
pathological
changes
observed
visual,
auditory,
olfactory,
somatosensory
systems
patients,
well
various
animal
models.
Sensory
may
emerge
at
stages
of
AD,
or
precede
decline,
accompanied
by
including
amyloid-beta
deposition,
tauopathy,
gliosis,
alterations
neuronal
excitability,
synaptic
inputs,
functional
plasticity.
Notably,
these
are
more
pronounced
association
areas
superficial
layers,
explain
relative
preservation
basic
functions
but
display
higher
We
propose
impairment
progression
establish
cyclical
relationship
mutually
perpetuates
each
condition.
highlights
significance
with
without
emphasizes
need
for
further
research
develop
reliable
detection
intervention
through
systems.