Conversations with a Neuron, Volume 1
[-] Preface
Welcome to the inaugural edition of Conversations with a Neuron! This issue, and the ones to follow, feature articles written by our Neuroscience majors at Washington State University Vancouver. The articles all started as class assignments for classes such as Neuroanatomy and the neuroscience Capstone course; senior-level courses that invite the students to dig into a topic in neuroscience that interests them, to think deeply, and to synthesize ideas. The end result, of course, is a graded assignment – we know our students work hard for their grades! In a traditional course, the grade would be the end – a paper written by the student, read and graded by the professor, and set aside.
These papers are so much more than a chance to earn a grade! They show original thought and mastery of the subject matter, and they teach the professors something new every time. Hence, this journal. We wanted to showcase the great work of our students.
I particularly want to thank Cheyanne Lewis (B.S. Neuroscience 2019), a gifted writer and editor who volunteered to compile and edit this volume. Cheyanne did an amazing job editing every page, turning a disparate set of papers into a comprehensive body of work.
To learn more about our Neuroscience program, please visit our website at https://cas.vancouver.wsu.edu/neuroscience. We hope you enjoy this issue… and learn something you are glad to know!
Sincerely,
Dr. Allison Coffin
Associate Professor of Neuroscience
[+] Neuroanatomy
A Possible Cause for Autism: Abnormal VEN Development
Decreased number of von Economo neurons in individuals with ASD, could be inhibiting intuition, social bonding and social reward due to lack of dopamine, serotonin and vasopressin receptors associated with this type of neurons.
Cutting out the middle man
Using transdifferentiation as a means of regenerating specific cell types.
Decision-Making and Reaction Times: Why you should be playing video games too
When comparing people who play action video games (AVGPs) to those who play non-action video games (NAVGPs), there was an increase reaction time in AVGPs as well as an enhanced ability to make decisions and prioritize.
Disturbances of gamma-band activity and parvalbumin expression in schizophrenia
In schizophrenia, increases in NMDA receptor (NMDAR) inhibition and glutathione (GSH) depletion coexist, but are separate processes. This has led to new insights behind gamma band oscillations and parvalbumin (PV) expression disturbances in schizophrenia and other disorders.
Dopamine receptors aren’t always dope
The presence of specific allelic variants of the polyamorous dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) is shown to be predictors of intensified neurodegeneration in frontotemporal dementia-spectrum patients.
Eat your stress away!
Targeting the Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis: Prebiotics Have Anxiolytic and Antidepressant-like Effects and Reverse the Impact of Chronic Stress in Mice.
Functional prions are in the central nervous system; how they influence memory!
Prions are an incredible class of proteins which offer many beneficiary functions to the central nervous system, such as cytoplasmic polyadenylation element-binding protein (CPEB), its role in long-term memory and synaptic plasticity. Prions also serve as a harmful misfolded protein within the nervous system, this caused all prions to classically be identified as the forefront for neurodegenerative illnesses. TIA-1 is also a crucial functioning prion and it’s known for its role during stress in the brain and programed cell death. It is now known to be a key member of normal cell biology.
Hippocampal-prefrontal coherence linked to schizophrenia in mice could point to a potential psychosis treatment
Abnormalities in hippocampal-prefrontal theta coherence played a role in the dysfunctional regulation of selective attention through short-term habituation leading to aberrant salience. Introducing the AMPA receptor subunit GLUA1 in the CA2/CA3 of the hippocampus in Gria1- deficient mice restored hippocampal-prefrontal coherence, linking GRIA1 to schizophrenia.
Hope for schizophrenia patients after discovery of brain cells associated with this mental chronic disorder
There are limited studies underlying the basis of schizophrenia that can be used to model experiments to expand the genomic basis of schizophrenia and help alleviate its symptoms more effectively then the treatments available today. That is exactly what a recent study has discovered. This study incorporated knowledge of the brain from single-cell RNA sequencing and analyzed whether specific loci associated with schizophrenia were mapped on specific cells in the brain.
How does behavioral training influence sound frequency discrimination?
With hearing loss affecting 35 million Americans, ferrets have been used to study frequency discrimination in the auditory cortex in aims to improve current engineered sensory signaling systems.
I took this new sleeping pill and nhjmjjj...... (it worked)
An Oxford research study, conducted by Kemph, Song, Talbot and Miesenböck, found evidence that the ratio of different states of NADPH had a direct effect on Shaker potassium channels which cause sleeping. This research helps shed light on the mechanisms of sleeping and could help those suffering from insomnia as well as develop better sleeping pills.
Musical enrichment for neurologically disordered children
A new study finds music therapy an effective addition to treatment for children with severe neurological disorders, enhancing the children’s attentional and emotional capacities.
TRPA1: A Ghost ship in the membrane
Transient Receptor Potential Ankyrin 1 is a calcium-permeable channel that plays a major role in pain perception, overactivity of these cation channels can induce hyperalgesia. A number of compounds belonging to various chemical families that were involved in animal/human studies have been demonstrated to act as antagonists to this TRP class of channel proteins and attenuate symptoms of hyperalgesia.
Taking shots to treat migraine pain: the effects of BOTOX injections on pediatric patients
The key to an effective anti-depressant regiment: brain-derived neurotrophic factor
The unique properties between the cerebral cortex and sports-related concussive injuries
Concussions are a large issue with a growing spotlight in sports; professionally, collegiately, and recreationally this is a problem commonly addressed. Maerlender et al’s article “Concussion competencies: a training model for school-based concussion management” chose to take a look at how concussive education can decrease risky behavior and overall cortical damage.
Try not to forget this one
This study uses visual experiences and an instruction to disregard them in order to activate memory processing.
What makes us human? Newly discovered neurons may be the key
Boldog et. al. have discovered a specialized GABAergic interneuron subtype within layer 1 cortex unique to the human brain. These rosehip interneurons have been shown to target layer 3 pyramidal neurons and work to inhibit back propagating, expressing great local control of distal dendrites
[+] Neurophysiology
Amyloid-𝛃 betta get outta here
A study found that local injection of gene editing proteins significantly improved the commonly observed neuroanatomical and behavioral changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Moreover, these findings advance the field of research investigating gene therapy as a novel method of treatment for neurodegenerative diseases.
Are pesticides safe to use with proper protections?
Are you one of 70% people that want to learn a foreign language: Have a nap and learn
New foreign words and their translated words could be stored into memory as associations during a midday nap.
Cannabis helps your brain perform like new
Chronic low doses of THC can restore your brain power and help you perform as if you were half your age.
Deep brain stimulation improves cognitive control in depressed patients
Don’t go to bed angry! Good for your relationship and for your frontal cortex
A new study found that people who have greater alpha wave power in their right frontal cortex during REM sleep and evening wakefulness experience more anger in dreams.
No need for surgery
Cook et al. investigated a new form of neuromodulation therapy for individuals with psychiatric disorders. Significant improvements in depression and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms were observed after acute external trigeminal nerve stimulation treatment.
Possible treatment to rehabilitate the brain from addiction
A new study shows that a rehabilitating mechanism known as transcranial magnetic stimulation can be used as a treatment for substance use disorders.
Puzzled? Turn on the gamma waves
External amplification of gamma wave frequencies applied to the temporal lobe can increase one’s ability to find a solution to a problem, inducing a Eureka! moment.
Salt on the brain: a possible explanation for the irresistibility of salty foods
A new study combines several genetic tools to identify a neural circuit in mice that synthesizes information about taste and internal state to modulate appetite for sodium. Similar techniques could be used to probe a number of other peripheral circuits.
Social anxiety isn’t just for mammals anymore
A new study, “Social harassment induces anxiety-like behaviour in crayfish”, shows a novel crayfish model for acute anxiety in response to harassment that responds well to pharmacological treatment.
Special K – Not just a cereal: ketamine as a novel treatment of depression
Traditional antidepressants have delayed therapeutic onset and are ineffective in up to 30% of treatment resistant forms of depression. Ketamine may provide a novel fast acting mechanism of reversing depression by changing the structure and signaling in the brain.
Targeting chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans in order to reduce neural inflammation and promote oligodendrogenesis
Damage to the central nervous system results in limited tissue regeneration and permanent injuries such as paralysis. A study based in the University of Manitoba done by Dyck et al shows the cellular mechanism available for targeting to counteract this phenomenon.
The brain on cocaine: a closer look at the cellular changes to blame
New research gives insight into the cellular changes that occur during cocaine addiction, a meaningful step towards treating the disorder.
Why it doesn’t hurt to get enough sleep
Researchers find that even subtle day-to-day changes in sleep patterns can significantly alter the perception of pain.
Women versus men, what do you want to eat? We might have an answer
A recent study showed that when it comes to choosing food when unconsciously eating for hungry or pleasure, females prefer high calorie meals while males prefer low calorie meals.
[+] Neuroscience In Review
Chief Editor: Cheyanne Lewis
Publication Date: Jun 2020
Supervising Staff: Allison Coffin, PhD & Dale Fortin, PhD
Download: PDF