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Related Concept Videos

Long-term Potentiation01:35

Long-term Potentiation

Long-term potentiation, or LTP, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTP is the process of synaptic strengthening that occurs over time between pre- and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic strengthening of LTP works in opposition to the synaptic weakening of long-term depression (LTD) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Neural Circuits01:25

Neural Circuits

Neural circuits and neuronal pools are two of the main structures found in the nervous system. Neural circuits are networks of neurons that work together to carry out a specific task or process. They consist of interconnected neurons and glial cells, which provide structural and metabolic support.
Neuronal pools are collections of nerve cells with similar functions and interact through chemical and electrical signals. These pools include both interneurons (the central neural circuit nodes that...

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Related Experiment Video

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Interfacing 3D Engineered Neuronal Cultures to Micro-Electrode Arrays: An Innovative In Vitro Experimental Model
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Ring-shaped neuronal networks: a platform to study persistent activity.

Ashwin Vishwanathan1, Guo-Qiang Bi, Henry C Zeringue

  • 1Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.

Lab on a Chip
|February 5, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers developed a novel platform to study brain persistent activity using ring-shaped neuronal networks. Blocking inhibition prolonged this activity, revealing insights into working memory and synaptic mechanisms.

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Electrophysiological and Morphological Characterization of Neuronal Microcircuits in Acute Brain Slices Using Paired Patch-Clamp Recordings

Published on: January 10, 2015

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cellular Neuroscience
  • Systems Neuroscience

Background:

  • Persistent neural activity is crucial for cognitive functions like working memory and motor planning.
  • Recurrent network loops, such as thalamocortical and cortical reciprocal loops, are hypothesized substrates for persistent activity.
  • Studying the synaptic mechanisms of persistent activity in native brain circuitry is challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a novel platform for investigating the synaptic mechanisms underlying persistent neural activity.
  • To constrain neuronal networks into a recurrent loop geometry for controlled experimentation.
  • To analyze the properties and regulation of persistent activity in engineered neuronal networks.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a polymer stamping technique to create precise ring-shaped adhesive protein patterns on glass substrates.
  • Cultured primary rat hippocampal neurons on these patterned substrates to form controlled ring-shaped networks (40-60 neurons).
  • Employed calcium imaging to monitor and analyze evoked persistent activity within these networks.

Main Results:

  • Successfully established functional ring-shaped neuronal networks capable of generating persistent activity.
  • Observed that persistent activity occurred in an all-or-none fashion.
  • Pharmacological blockade of inhibition (bicuculline methaiodide) significantly increased the duration of persistent activity.
  • Blockade of asynchronous neurotransmitter release (EGTA-AM) abolished these persistent activity phases.

Conclusions:

  • The developed platform effectively enables the study of synaptic mechanisms driving persistent neural activity.
  • Inhibitory mechanisms play a critical role in regulating the duration of persistent activity.
  • Asynchronous neurotransmitter release is essential for sustaining persistent activity phases in these networks.