Acta Neuropathologica Communications,
Journal Year:
2021,
Volume and Issue:
9(1)
Published: June 7, 2021
Abstract
Pathophysiological
changes
in
dopamine
neurons
precede
their
demise
and
contribute
to
the
early
phases
of
Parkinson’s
disease
(PD).
Intracellular
pathological
inclusions
protein
α-synuclein
within
dopaminergic
are
a
cardinal
feature
PD,
but
mechanisms
by
which
contributes
neuron
vulnerability
remain
unknown.
The
inaccessibility
diseased
tissue
has
been
limitation
studying
progression
pathophysiology
prior
degeneration
neurons.
To
address
these
issues,
we
differentiated
induced
pluripotent
stem
cells
(iPSCs)
from
PD
patient
carrying
triplication
mutation
(AST)
an
unaffected
first-degree
relative
(NAS)
into
In
human-like
overexpression
reduced
functional
availability
D2
receptors,
resulting
stark
dysregulation
firing
activity,
release,
neuronal
morphology.
We
back-translated
findings
primary
mouse
overexpressing
found
similar
phenotype,
supporting
causal
role
for
α-synuclein.
Importantly,
application
receptor
agonist,
quinpirole,
restored
altered
activity
AST-derived
normal
levels.
These
results
provide
novel
insights
pre-degenerative
pathophysiological
neuro-phenotype
introduce
potential
mechanism
long-established
clinical
efficacy
agonists
treatment
PD.
Nature,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
614(7947), P. 294 - 302
Published: Jan. 18, 2023
Abstract
Recent
success
in
training
artificial
agents
and
robots
derives
from
a
combination
of
direct
learning
behavioural
policies
indirect
through
value
functions
1–3
.
Policy
use
distinct
algorithms
that
optimize
performance
reward
prediction,
respectively.
In
animals,
the
role
mesolimbic
dopamine
signalling
have
been
extensively
evaluated
with
respect
to
prediction
4
;
however,
so
far
there
has
little
consideration
how
policy
might
inform
our
understanding
5
Here
we
used
comprehensive
dataset
orofacial
body
movements
understand
evolved
as
naive,
head-restrained
mice
learned
trace
conditioning
paradigm.
Individual
differences
initial
dopaminergic
responses
correlated
emergence
policy,
but
not
putative
encoding
for
predictive
cue.
Likewise,
physiologically
calibrated
manipulations
produced
several
effects
inconsistent
predicted
by
neural-network-based
model
signals
set
an
adaptive
rate,
error
signal,
learning.
This
work
provides
strong
evidence
phasic
activity
can
regulate
policies,
expanding
explanatory
power
reinforcement
models
animal
6
Nature,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
630(8015), P. 141 - 148
Published: May 22, 2024
Abstract
Fentanyl
is
a
powerful
painkiller
that
elicits
euphoria
and
positive
reinforcement
1
.
also
leads
to
dependence,
defined
by
the
aversive
withdrawal
syndrome,
which
fuels
negative
2,3
(that
is,
individuals
retake
drug
avoid
withdrawal).
Positive
maintain
opioid
consumption,
addiction
in
one-fourth
of
users,
largest
fraction
for
all
addictive
drugs
4
Among
receptors,
µ-opioid
receptors
have
key
role
5
,
yet
induction
loci
circuit
adaptations
eventually
lead
remain
unknown.
Here
we
injected
mice
with
fentanyl
acutely
inhibit
γ-aminobutyric
acid-expressing
neurons
ventral
tegmental
area
(VTA),
causing
disinhibition
dopamine
neurons,
increased
nucleus
accumbens.
Knockdown
VTA
abolished
transients
reinforcement,
but
remained
unchanged.
We
identified
expressing
central
amygdala
(CeA)
whose
activity
was
enhanced
during
withdrawal.
CeA
eliminated
symptoms,
suggesting
they
mediate
reinforcement.
Thus,
optogenetic
stimulation
caused
place
aversion,
readily
learned
press
lever
pause
express
receptors.
Our
study
parses
neuronal
populations
trigger
CeA,
respectively.
lay
out
organization
develop
interventions
reducing
facilitating
rehabilitation.
Annual Review of Neuroscience,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
45(1), P. 109 - 129
Published: Feb. 28, 2022
Ventral
tegmental
area
(VTA)
dopamine
(DA)
neurons
are
often
thought
to
uniformly
encode
reward
prediction
errors.
Conversely,
DA
release
in
the
nucleus
accumbens
(NAc),
prominent
projection
target
of
these
neurons,
has
been
implicated
reinforcement
learning,
motivation,
aversion,
and
incentive
salience.
This
contrast
between
heterogeneous
functions
versus
a
homogeneous
role
for
neuron
activity
raises
numerous
questions
regarding
how
VTA
translates
into
NAc
release.
Further
complicating
this
issue
is
increasing
evidence
that
distinct
projections
defined
subregions
mediate
diverse
behavioral
functions.
Here,
we
evaluate
heterogeneity
within
mesoaccumbal
system
argue
frameworks
function
must
incorporate
precise
topographic
organization
clarify
their
contribution
health
disease.
Nature,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
612(7939), P. 316 - 322
Published: Nov. 30, 2022
Abstract
In
neural
networks
that
store
information
in
their
connection
weights,
there
is
a
tradeoff
between
sensitivity
and
stability
1,2
.
Connections
must
be
plastic
to
incorporate
new
information,
but
if
they
are
too
plastic,
stored
can
corrupted.
A
potential
solution
allow
plasticity
only
during
epochs
when
task-specific
rich,
on
the
basis
of
‘when-to-learn’
signal
3
We
reasoned
dopamine
provides
when-to-learn
allows
brain’s
spatial
maps
update
available—that
is,
an
animal
moving.
Here
we
show
neurons
innervating
Drosophila
head
direction
network
specifically
active
fly
turns
change
its
direction.
Moreover,
activity
scales
with
moment-to-moment
fluctuations
rotational
speed.
Pairing
release
visual
cue
persistently
strengthens
cue’s
influence
cells.
Conversely,
inhibiting
these
decreases
cue.
This
mechanism
should
accelerate
learning
moments
orienting
movements
providing
rich
stream
allowing
rates
low
at
other
times
protect
information.
Our
results
how
brain
compressed
into
discrete
which
high
matched
intake.