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Neural Circuits

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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Electroporation of Sliced Human Cortical Organoids for Studies of Gene Function

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Published on: November 29, 2024

A human-specific modifier of cortical connectivity and circuit function.

Ewoud R E Schmidt^1,2,3, Hanzhi T Zhao^2,4, Jung M Park^1,2

¹Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.

|October 28, 2021

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

The human gene SRGAP2C enhanced brain connectivity in mice, improving sensory learning and cognition. This suggests SRGAP2C played a key role in human brain evolution.

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Evolutionary Biology
Genetics

Background:

Human cognitive abilities are linked to unique cortical circuit architecture and increased cortico-cortical connectivity.
The evolutionary origins and functional impact of these connectivity changes remain largely unknown.
The human-specific gene SRGAP2C emerged early in Homo lineage evolution, preceding significant brain size increases.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the evolutionary origin and functional consequences of increased cortico-cortical connectivity in the human brain.
To determine how the human-specific gene SRGAP2C influences cortical circuit structure and function.
To explore the role of SRGAP2C in the evolution of human cognitive abilities.

Main Methods:

Expressing SRGAP2C in mice to model human cortical development.
Analyzing synaptic density and connectivity in layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons (PNs).
Assessing sensory processing and learning abilities in SRGAP2C-humanized mice using behavioral tasks and computational modeling.

Main Results:

SRGAP2C expression specifically increased local and long-range cortico-cortical connections, leading to more excitatory synapses on layer 2/3 PNs.
Mice with SRGAP2C humanization showed altered sensory processing and enhanced performance in a sensory-discrimination task.
Computational models indicated that SRGAP2C-induced changes in layer 4 to layer 2/3 connectivity explain altered sensory coding.

Conclusions:

The emergence of SRGAP2C contributed to the evolution of specific structural and functional features of human cortical circuits.
SRGAP2C's role in enhancing cortico-cortical connectivity likely influenced the development of human cognitive abilities.
This study provides insights into the genetic basis of human brain evolution and its impact on behavior.