New papers on Neurons & circuits
111 new papers on neurons & circuits in the last 7 days, within Brain & mind. These are the 50 Pipette rates most worth reading, with the main result in the authors' own words.
The best of the week
A prefrontal cortex-hypothalamus circuit for heart rate control in non-human primates
Here, we identify a prefrontal-hypothalamic circuit that exerts powerful, bidirectional control over heart rate in monkeys.
PreprintCellular code for mnemonic pattern separation in the human hippocampus is revealed by false memories
These results establish a single cell correlate for mnemonic pattern separation in the human hippocampus and show its behavioral relevance in episodic memory.
PreprintClaims a big stepChemogenetic activation of hypothalamic oxytocin neurons reorients face exploration toward the eyes in macaques
These findings provide the first causal evidence in primates that hypothalamic OT neurons regulate social visual orienting by increasing exploration of the eyes, thereby linking a hallmark effect of intranasal OT administration to defined central OT pathways and establishing chemogenetic access to this system in freely behaving macaques.
PreprintClaims a big stepA brain locus for viable gestation
Here we show that pregnancy induces profound changes in gene expression and identity of hormone-sensitive neurons and report a previously unknown class of such cells that is required for viable pregnancy.
PreprintBold claims, read criticallyClaims a big stepThe lipidomic architecture of the mouse brain
Through lipizones, we (1) reveal the organizing principles of the grey matter lipidome, related to connectivity and cytoarchitecture; (2) discover a new axis of oligodendrocyte heterogeneity in the white matter; and (3) find biochemical zonation in the choroid plexus and in the ventricular walls.
Peer-reviewed journalClaims a big stepDirect voltage imaging of peripheral axons in vivo reveals ongoing nociceptor firing in healthy mice
Thus, direct voltage imaging reveals ongoing and spatially coordinated electrical activity within intact peripheral sensory arbors.
PreprintClaims a big stepMicro- and nanoplastics alter electrophysiological brain patterns and reshape human neurodevelopmental trajectories
Collectively, our findings identify MNPs as potent disruptors of human neurophysiology, linking plastic exposure to altered developmental trajectories, cellular senescence, neuroinflammation, and impaired neuronal network activity, providing mechanistic insights into how plastic accumulation may contribute to impaired brain dynamics.
PreprintBold claims, read criticallyReal-world useA discrete Connexin26+ neural crest lineage emerges in mid-life and mediates enhanced central brainstem responses to elevated CO2 levels for deep breathing.
We now document the role of Cx26 as a direct physiological CO2 sensor in vivo.
PreprintBold claims, read criticallyClaims a big stepConnectome-based biophysical modeling of a figure-ground discrimination circuit
Using Drosophila connectomics data and biophysically accurate modeling, we reveal a biological circuit implementing this canonical architecture.
PreprintClaims a big stepThe dendritic spine vicinome: characterizing its crowding in the human brain with petavoxel electron microscopy
We conclude that cortical depth, and not pyramidal neuron polarity, was related to the number of neuronal elements neighboring the spine.
PreprintClaims a big stepSingle neurons in the human substantia nigra encode social learning signals
Our results identify a novel role for the substantia nigra in encoding social learning signals.
PreprintUltrafast venous and sagittal sinus constrictions in the brain driven by abdominal pressure
Unlike the pial and parenchymal microvasculature whose diameters are largely controlled by local signals, the diameters of SSS/BVs are dynamically controlled during behavior in part by abdominal muscle regulation of intracranial pressure, establishing a pathway for regulation of cerebral hemodynamics via mechanical coupling between the central nervous system and the viscera.
Peer-reviewed journalThe small GTPase Rem2 modulates sex-dependent spatial learning by regulating CA1 glutamate receptor composition
These results reveal an unexpected role of Rem2 in maintaining sex differences in glutamate receptor composition and spatial learning abilities.
PreprintBold claims, read criticallyClaims a big stepThe functional diversification of somatosensory neuron repertoires across Mammalia
Using multiomic single-cell analysis of dorsal root ganglia neurons from thirteen different mammalian species and cross-species functional studies enabled by cell-type-specific enhancer viruses, we show that mammals instead assemble species-specific, functionally distinct somatosensory neuron repertoires from a conserved set of neuron types (orthotypes).
PreprintINS-fMRI: a novel method for mapping mesoscale connectome networks in vivo in nonhuman primates
Here, we present a method called INS-fMRI, which comprises optical stimulation of single sites in the brain using pulsed Infrared Neural Stimulation (INS), coupled with mapping of functionally connected sites in the brain using ultrahigh field fMRI.
PreprintBold claims, read criticallyClaims a big stepDirect cellular contact by Porphyromonas gingivalis suppresses nociceptor excitability and induces analgesia during inflammation
These findings define a contact-dependent mechanism that actively suppresses peripheral pain signaling during inflammation.
Peer-reviewed journalRefractoriness-Based Masking Yields Threshold-Specific Human Auditory Nerve Responses
To overcome this, we developed a novel refractoriness-masking paradigm to non-invasively isolate threshold-specific AN fiber responses in humans.
PreprintCausal mapping of self-motion networks in the human brain
Together, these findings provide causal evidence that vestibular self-motion perception emerges from activity within a distributed cortical network involved in attentional control and multisensory processing.
PreprintMotor cortex pain compensation is modifiable: allostatic load degrades its analgesic efficiency and rehabilitation restores it
Here we show that motor cortex pain compensation is instead a modifiable state whose analgesic efficiency depends on allostatic load.
PreprintReal-world useAn accumbal cholinergic ISR-HCN2 axis sustains maladaptive cue motivation
These findings identify an ISR-HCN2-dependent cholinergic mechanism that stabilizes maladaptive cue-driven motivation and nominate HCN-dependent excitability as a tractable target for therapeutic intervention.
PreprintReal-world usePostnatal sensorimotor experience causally shapes hemispheric specialization across motor and language networks
These findings demonstrate that postnatal bodily experience shapes the developmental emergence of hemispheric specialization, specifically in higher-order motor and language networks, and revealed coordinated organization between action and language systems.
PreprintNeuronal detection of social actions directs collective escape behaviour
Here we show that, in the schooling glassfish Danionella cerebrum 13–15 , collective escape from danger can be mediated by an individual’s visual perception of other escaping animals.
Peer-reviewed journalThe Neural Mechanism of Motion Sickness Alleviation by Anticipatory Sound
These findings reveal how auditory prediction can dampen vestibular circuits that drive MS.
Peer-reviewed journalSEX-DEPENDENT MODULATION OF WHOLE BRAIN cFOS EXPRESSION BY LIGHT AND MELANOPSIN IN THE MOUSE
This approach yielded a strikingly broad pattern of light-driven cFos activation throughout the brain that extended beyond canonical visual circuits, with unexpectedly strong modulation of neuromodulatory centers.
PreprintDiffusion MRI Tractography Predicts Electrophysiological Connectivity and Explains Spectral Signatures of Evoked Potentials in the Human Brain
Across 150,000 electrode pairs, we found that the presence of a structural connection predicted causal electrophysiological connectivity with a probability of ~0.95; and its absence predicted the lack of the direct electrophysiological connectivity with a probability of ~0.8.
PreprintMyelin sheath lengths in the central nervous system scale to axon diameter via oligodendroglial Piezo1
We uncover a novel mechanism for scaling myelin sheath length to fiber diameter, through mechanosensitive ion channel Piezo1.
Peer-reviewed journalSystem-level synchronization and subtype-specific modules govern brain-wide serotonin axon innervation
Together, these results show that brain-wide serotonin innervation is built through embryonic subtype specification and two layers of postnatal control: system-level synchronization and subtype-specific terminal development.
Peer-reviewed journalThree dimensional reconstruction of the human nucleus accumbens reveals topographic organization and molecular heterogeneity of D1-islands across the anterior posterior axis
Together, these findings establish a framework for three dimensional spatial genomics of human brain tissue and reveal molecular and cellular organization not captured by individual tissue sections.
PreprintLocalized SARS-CoV-2 Infection Triggers a Tissue-Wide Antiviral Response and Functional Impairment of Olfactory Sensory Neurons
Together, these findings demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 infection initiates tissue-wide antiviral signaling in the OE that persistently disrupts OSN function, providing a mechanistic framework for COVID-19-associated anosmia.
PreprintDorsal ocelli set the luminance-dependent operating state of the bumblebee visual system
These findings reconcile disparate views of ocellar function and identify ocelli as regulators of the neural dynamic range supporting orientation in low light and movement control in bright conditions.
PreprintAction potential waveforms are state-dependent
Here, we show that action potential waveform variability is not random, but is, instead, state dependent.
PreprintBold claims, read criticallyMorphological Hallmarks of White Matter Astrocytes Across Development
These findings provide the first developmental framework for the morphogenesis of callosal astrocytes and establish a foundation for future studies investigating the molecular mechanisms regulating the development of WM astrocytes.
PreprintThalamofrontal synaptic weakening underlies short-term memory deficits from adolescent NMDAR hypofunction
Here, we show that repeated adolescent N -methyl- d -aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonism produces STM deficits by impairing TF synaptic transmission.
Peer-reviewed journalPrefrontal control of hippocampal map reorganization during sleep
Thus, our results extend current models by showing that sleep not only consolidates wake-established hippocampal patterns, but actively shapes hippocampal maps via prefrontal control, thereby supporting memory generalization.
PreprintA general method to develop excitation ratiometric neuropeptide sensors with enhanced sensitivity for in vivo applications
Here, we present a general strategy for engineering dual-excitation ratiometric (Ex-ratiometric) neuropeptide sensors by tuning the excited-state proton transfer properties of the fluorescent reporter.
PreprintBold claims, read criticallyLocal translation couples synaptic activity to mitochondrial adaptation in dendrites
Here, we show that neuronal activity engages a spatially restricted translational program that couples local protein synthesis to mitochondrial function through the non-canonical translation initiation factor eIF4G2.
PreprintIn vitro programming and pseudounipolarization of human iPSC-derived sensory neurons
Taken together, NBI-based forward programming of iPSCs represents a robust approach for the generation of human sensory neurons suitable for developmental, disease- and therapy-related studies.
PreprintDecay chemicals activate a pH-sensing pathway to initiate a persistent state
These results demonstrate that non-olfactory chemosensation mediates persistent behavioral responses to death and decay in zebrafish, illustrating how diverse chemosensory systems detect ethologically-relevant cues to drive adaptive behavior.
PreprintDepolarization block in substantia nigra pars reticulata neurons drives dystonia in a mouse model
Multiple physiological approaches indicated that in PNKD mice, ethanol leads to depolarization block in SNr neurons.
PreprintMouse Neural Organoids Model the Mature In Vivo Synaptic Proteome
These findings demonstrate that complex mature synaptic molecular architecture is present within an in vitro organoid environment.
PreprintHunger reconfigures a reward learning circuit into a memory competent mode
Here, we describe how hunger reconfigures a dopaminergic food-reward circuit between two physiological modes that support memory formation, in Drosophila.
PreprintCalcium sensing by the C2A domain of Synaptotagmin 7 is required through the linker for both synaptic facilitation and memory
Through a genetic dissection of Synaptotagmin 7 (Syt7) in Drosophila , here we determine Syt7 as the high-affinity Ca 2+ sensor for synaptic facilitation, showing close correlation from synaptic facilitation to memory.
Peer-reviewed journalMassively parallel assessment of gene regulatory activity at human cortical-structure-associated variants
We identified 918 variants with regulatory potential from 150 cortical-structure-associated loci (76% of loci studied), of which more than 50% showed allelic effects.
Peer-reviewed journalEvolution of new cerebellar nuclei by excitatory progenitor diversification in the early rhombic lip
Evolutionarily newer canonical cerebellar nuclei with increasingly higher-order functions are produced by diversification of the early RL, where nuclear identity and spatial organization are established in part by co-option of border formation programs in conserved progenitor cell types.
PreprintBold claims, read criticallyA cross-species atlas platform for comparative neuroscience in teleost fish
To advance these efforts, we developed a standardised workflow and a unified brain atlas platform for the quantitative comparison of neural structures between two teleost larvae, medaka ( Oryzias latipes ) and zebrafish ( Danio rerio ).
Peer-reviewed journalLateralized dopaminergic neuron activity encodes goal-directed turning
Here, we demonstrate that Drosophila mushroom body innervating dopaminergic neurons encode steering signals in world-centred (allocentric) and body-centred (egocentric) coordinates during goal-directed navigation.
PreprintExperience-driven plasticity in the secondary somatosensory cortex in people born without hands
Our findings suggest that SII exhibits flexible, experience-dependent plasticity, revealing a hierarchical principle of cortical plasticity, whereby reorganization in the SI is constrained by somatotopic principles while SII reflects functional or experience-dependent reweighting plasticity.
Peer-reviewed journalLack of vision shifts occipital dynamics toward a frontal-like regime and enhances top-down connectivity
Together, these findings indicate that blindness reshapes both the intrinsic dynamics and large-scale integration of the occipital cortex.
PreprintBrief disruption of activity in a subset of dopaminergic neurons during consolidation impairs long-term memory by fragmenting sleep
Here, using both male and female flies, Drosophila melanogaster , we show that, during the first few hours of memory consolidation, disruption of basal activity of a small subset of protocerebral anterior medial DANs (PAM-DANs), by either brief activation or inhibition of the two dorsal posterior medial (DPM) neurons, impairs 24 hr LTM.
Peer-reviewed journalStriatal interneuron microcircuits gate reinforcement to stabilize adaptive choice
Together, these findings identify a disinhibitory striatal circuit motif gating reinforcement which transforms individual trial outcomes into temporally broader policy.
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