Mitochondria metabolism sets the species-specific tempo of neuronal development

Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 379(6632)

Published: Jan. 27, 2023

Neuronal development in the human cerebral cortex is considerably prolonged compared with that of other mammals. We explored whether mitochondria influence species-specific timing cortical neuron maturation. By comparing and mouse neuronal maturation at high temporal cell resolution, we found a slower neurons mouse, together lower metabolic activity, particularly oxidative phosphorylation. Stimulation metabolism resulted accelerated vitro vivo, leading to cells weeks ahead time, whereas its inhibition led decreased rates Mitochondria are thus important regulators pace underlying human-specific brain neoteny.

Language: Английский

---

3D Genome of macaque fetal brain reveals evolutionary innovations during primate corticogenesis

Cell, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 184(3), P. 723 - 740.e21

Published: Jan. 27, 2021

Language: Английский

---

“Poor brain development” in the global South? Challenging the science of early childhood interventions

Ethos, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 51(1), P. 3 - 26

Published: Jan. 31, 2023

Abstract Global Early Childhood Development (ECD)—an applied field with the aim to improve “brain structure and function” of future generations in global South—has moved center international development. ECD rests heavily on evidence claims about widespread cognitive, social, emotional deficits South benefits changing parenting practices order optimize early childhood We challenge these grounds that leading literature excludes research from anthropology, cultural psychology, related fields could provide crucial insights childrearing children's development targeted communities. encourage anthropologists other scholars ethnographic expertise critically engage ECD. To facilitate such an endeavor, this article sketches history, scientific claims, interventions ECD, points out critical potential research, suggests strategies make ethnography more relevant.

Language: Английский

---

A catalog of single nucleotide changes distinguishing modern humans from archaic hominins

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 9(1)

Published: June 11, 2019

Throughout the past decade, studying ancient genomes has provided unique insights into human prehistory, and differences between modern humans other branches like Neanderthals can enrich our understanding of molecular basis traits. Modern variation interactions different hominin lineages are now well studied, making it reasonable to go beyond fixed genetic changes explore that observed at high frequency in present-day humans. Here, we identify 571 genes with non-synonymous frequency. We suggest mechanisms cell division networks affecting cellular features neurons were prominently modified by these changes. Complex phenotypes brain growth trajectory cognitive traits likely influenced non-coding presented here. propose least some contributed uniquely traits, should be prioritized for experimental validation.

Language: Английский

---

SYNGAP1 deficiency disrupts synaptic neoteny in xenotransplanted human cortical neurons in vivo

Neuron, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 112(18), P. 3058 - 3068.e8

Published: Aug. 6, 2024

Human brain ontogeny is characterized by a considerably prolonged neotenic development of cortical neurons and circuits. Neoteny thought to be essential for the acquisition advanced cognitive functions, which are typically altered in intellectual disability (ID) autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). neuronal neoteny could disrupted some forms ID and/or ASDs, but this has never been tested. Here, we use xenotransplantation human into mouse model SYNGAP1 haploinsufficiency, one most prevalent genetic causes ID/ASDs. We find that SYNGAP1-deficient display strong acceleration morphological functional synaptic formation maturation alongside plasticity. At circuit level, SYNGAP1-haploinsufficient precocious responsiveness visual stimulation months ahead time. Our findings indicate required cell autonomously neoteny, providing novel links between human-specific developmental mechanisms

Language: Английский

---

‘Snakes and ladders’ in paleoanthropology: From cognitive surprise to skillfulness a million years ago

Physics of Life Reviews, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 49, P. 40 - 70

Published: Jan. 21, 2024

A paradigmatic account may suffice to explain behavioral evolution in early Homo. We propose a parsimonious that (1) could particular, frequently-encountered, archeological outcome of behavior Homo — namely, the fashioning Paleolithic stone 'handaxe' from biological theoretic perspective informed by free energy principle (FEP); and (2) regards instances as postdictive or retrodictive, circumstantial corroboration. Our proposal considers humankind evolving self-organizing ecosystem at geological time-scale. offer narrative treatment this self-organization terms FEP. Specifically, we indicate how 'cognitive surprises' underwrite an propensity express sporadic unorthodox anomalous behavior. This co-evolutionary has left us legacy artifacts is reminiscent 'snakes ladders' board game appearances, disappearances, reappearances particular traces When detected Early Middle Pleistocene record, anthropologists archeologists often imagine evidence unusual novel ascending rungs figurative phylogenetic 'ladder' if these corresponded progressive cognitive abilities enabled incremental achievements increasingly innovative technical prowess, culminating ascendancy sapiens. The conjecture overlooks plausible likelihood individual who was atypical among her conspecifics have been disregarded community Hominina (for definition see Appendix 1) failed recognize, imagine, articulate potential advantages adopting hitherto Such failure, well diverse fortuitous demographic accidents, would cause exceptional personal be ignored hence unremembered. It disappear pitfall, down 'snake', it were, evolutionary game; thereby causing discontinuity human presents like puzzle. puzzle discomforts some paleoanthropologists trained natural life sciences. They dismiss it, explaining away with such self-justifying conjectures that, maybe, separate paleospecies differentially possessed different abilities, which, supposedly, for presence absence record skill. argue alternative inherits FEP individual's 'active inference' about its surroundings own responses affords prosaic, deflationary, way outcomes skills humankind.

Language: Английский

---

Metabolic mechanisms of species-specific developmental tempo

Developmental Cell, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 59(13), P. 1628 - 1639

Published: June 20, 2024

Development consists of a highly ordered suite steps and transitions, like choreography. Although these sequences are often evolutionarily conserved, they can display species variations in duration speed, thereby modifying final organ size or function. Despite their evolutionary significance, the mechanisms underlying species-specific scaling developmental tempo have remained unclear. Here, we will review recent findings that implicate global cellular mechanisms, particularly intermediary protein metabolism, as modifiers tempo. In various systems, from somitic cell oscillations to neuronal development, metabolic pathways differences. These been linked mitochondrial which influence speed transitions. Thus, regulate together with other processes, including proteostasis chromatin remodeling. By linking metabolism evolution trajectories, provide opportunities decipher how timing organism fitness.

Language: Английский

---

Helpless infants are learning a foundation model

Trends in Cognitive Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 28(8), P. 726 - 738

Published: June 5, 2024

Humans have a protracted postnatal helplessness period, typically attributed to human-specific maternal constraints causing an early birth when the brain is highly immature. By aligning neurodevelopmental events across species, however, it has been found that humans are not born with especially immature brains compared animal species shorter helpless period. Consistent this, rapidly growing field of infant neuroimaging connectivity and functional activation at share many similarities mature brain. Inspired by machine learning, where deep neural networks also benefit from 'helpless period' pre-training, we propose human infants learning foundation model: set fundamental representations underpin later cognition high performance rapid generalisation.

Language: Английский

---

The Protracted Maturation of Associative Layer IIIC Pyramidal Neurons in the Human Prefrontal Cortex During Childhood: A Major Role in Cognitive Development and Selective Alteration in Autism

Frontiers in Psychiatry, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 10

Published: March 14, 2019

The human specific cognitive shift starts around the age of 2 years with onset self-awareness, and continues extraordinary increase in capacities during early childhood. Diffuse changes functional connectivity children aged 2-6 indicate an capacity cortical network. Interestingly, structural network complexity does not this time and, thus, it is likely to be induced by selective maturation a neuronal subclass. Here, we provide overview subclass cortico-cortical neurons, associative layer IIIC pyramids prefrontal cortex. Their local axonal collaterals are control output, while their long projections modulate inter-areal processing. In way, major integrative element processing, patterns will affect global functioning. Layer neurons have unique pattern dendritic maturation. contrast other classes principal they undergo additional phase extensive growth childhood, show characteristic molecular changes. Taken together, circuits associated most protracted period developmental plasticity. This feature advanced but also provides window opportunity for pathological events disrupt normal formation involving neurons. manuscript, discuss how disrupted may lead into disconnectivity, affecting development complex communication social abilities. We propose model that developmentally dictated incorporation maturing between 6 reveal previous (perinatal) lesion "disclosure" pre-existing functionally silent lesions or direct alteration, could found different forms autism spectrum disorders. Understanding gene-environment interaction shaping microcircuitries fundamental developing rehabilitation prevention strategies

Language: Английский

---

Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Linking Human Cortical Development and Evolution

Annual Review of Genetics, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 55(1), P. 555 - 581

Published: Sept. 18, 2021

The cerebral cortex is at the core of brain functions that are thought to be particularly developed in human species. Human specificities stem from divergent features corticogenesis, leading increased cortical size and complexity. Underlying cellular mechanisms include prolonged patterns neuronal generation maturation, as well amplification specific types stem/progenitor cells. While gene regulatory networks corticogenesis appear largely conserved among all mammals including humans, they have evolved primates, species, through emergence rapidly transcriptional elements, recently duplicated novel genes. These human-specific molecular together control key milestones often affected neurodevelopmental disorders, thus linking neural development, evolution, diseases.

Language: Английский

---