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Related Concept Videos

Action Potential01:14

Action Potential

Neurons communicate by firing action potentials—the electrochemical signal that is propagated along the axon. The signal results in the release of neurotransmitters at axon terminals, thereby transmitting information to the nervous system. An action potential is a specific "all-or-none" change in membrane potential that results in a rapid spike in voltage.
Membrane potential in neurons
Neurons typically have a resting membrane potential of about -70 millivolts (mV). When they receive...
Action Potential01:14

Action Potential

Neurons communicate by firing action potentials—the electrochemical signal that is propagated along the axon. The signal results in the release of neurotransmitters at axon terminals, thereby transmitting information to the nervous system. An action potential is a specific "all-or-none" change in membrane potential that results in a rapid spike in voltage.
Membrane potential in neurons
Neurons typically have a resting membrane potential of about -70 millivolts (mV). When they receive...
Neurons: The Axon01:21

Neurons: The Axon

Axons are long, cytoplasmic processes of nerve cells capable of propagating electrical impulses known as action potentials. The cytoplasm or axoplasm of an axon contains neurofibrils, neurotubules, small vesicles, lysosomes, mitochondria, and various enzymes, all encased within the axolemma, the plasma membrane of the axon.
The axon attaches to the cell body at a cone-shaped elevation called the axon hillock. The initial part of the axon, closest to the hillock, is known as the initial segment.
Diencephalon: Thalamus and Information Relay01:27

Diencephalon: Thalamus and Information Relay

The thalamus, often called “the gateway to the cerebral cortex,” is vital in processing and directing sensory and motor signals throughout the brain. Almost all inputs destined for the cerebral cortex, except for olfactory signals, are relayed through the thalamus. The thalamus is  a sophisticated relay station, channeling information from various brain regions to the cerebral cortex, as well as a filter, prioritizing certain signals over others based on current physiological states or needs.
Propagation of Action Potentials01:23

Propagation of Action Potentials

The propagation of an action potential refers to the process by which a nerve impulse, or "action potential," travels along a neuron.
Neurons (nerve cells) have a resting membrane potential, with a slightly negative charge inside compared to outside. This is maintained by ion channels, such as sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) channels, which control the flow of ions. When a stimulus, like a touch or a signal from another neuron, triggers the neuron, sodium channels open, allowing sodium ions to...
Direct Motor Pathways01:11

Direct Motor Pathways

The direct motor pathways, also known as the pyramidal tracts, are a group of neural pathways that originate in the brain and descend through the spinal cord. They control the voluntary movement of the body. There are two major direct motor pathways: the corticospinal and the corticobulbar tracts.
The corticospinal tract is responsible for the voluntary movement of the limbs and trunk. It originates in the cerebral cortex of the brain and descends through the cerebrum's internal capsule and the...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Visualization of Thalamocortical Axon Branching and Synapse Formation in Organotypic Cocultures
06:16

Visualization of Thalamocortical Axon Branching and Synapse Formation in Organotypic Cocultures

Published on: March 28, 2018

Activity-dependent thalamocortical axon branching.

Yasufumi Hayano1, Nobuhiko Yamamoto

  • 1Neuroscience Laboratories, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.

The Neuroscientist : a Review Journal Bringing Neurobiology, Neurology and Psychiatry
|July 29, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Thalamocortical (TC) axon branching in mammals is guided by genetic and neural activity. Activity-dependent mechanisms refine TC axon branching through regulators and remodeling processes in the developing brain.

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Last Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Visualization of Thalamocortical Axon Branching and Synapse Formation in Organotypic Cocultures
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Published on: March 28, 2018

Utilizing Combined Methodologies to Define the Role of Plasma Membrane Delivery During Axon Branching and Neuronal Morphogenesis
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In Vivo Intracerebral Stereotaxic Injections for Optogenetic Stimulation of Long-Range Inputs in Mouse Brain Slices
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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Axon Guidance

Background:

  • Thalamocortical (TC) projections are crucial for mammalian brain development.
  • TC axon branching occurs through both genetic programming and neural activity.
  • Laminar-specific regulators influence TC axon formation in the developing cortex.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of neural activity in regulating thalamocortical axon branching.
  • To understand how activity-dependent mechanisms contribute to the precise formation of TC projections.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized organotypic coculture systems to study TC axon branching in vitro.
  • Analyzed the effects of neural activity (firing and synaptic activity) on axon remodeling.
  • Examined the expression of branch-promoting and inhibiting factors.

Main Results:

  • Neural activity dynamically controls lamina-specific TC axon branching.
  • Activity influences the addition and elimination of axon branches during development.
  • Activity-dependent mechanisms modulate the expression of regulatory molecules.

Conclusions:

  • Neural activity is a key factor in shaping thalamocortical axon branching patterns.
  • Activity-dependent regulation fine-tunes TC projection development through remodeling processes.
  • Understanding these mechanisms is vital for comprehending brain wiring and development.