Neuroscience and Neurobiology Commons^™

Building A Better Athlete: How Great Coaches Game The Nervous System For Optimal Performance, Mark Lang

Scientific Kenyon: The Neuroscience Edition

No abstract provided.

Binaural Beats: Good Or Goop?, Sari Wagner

Scientific Kenyon: The Neuroscience Edition

No abstract provided.

Dispelling Depression Dogma: Why Depression Is More Than A Chemical Imbalance, Jorge Roman

Scientific Kenyon: The Neuroscience Edition

No abstract provided.

"Your Love Is My Drug" - Kesha, Olivia Smith

Scientific Kenyon: The Neuroscience Edition

No abstract provided.

Perineuronal Nets Are Not Required To Close The Critical Period For Ocular Dominance Plasticity., Emily Crouse

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the developing visual system, a transient critical period demarcates when neural circuits are most sensitive to visual experience. In the mouse, the critical period occurs between approximately postnatal day(P) 19 to 32. Closing one eye (monocular deprivation, MD) within the critical period shifts ocular dominance (OD) to be more responsive to the open eye. Nogo-66 Receptor 1 (NGR1) limits OD plasticity to the critical period yet it remains unknown how OD plasticity propagates through primary visual cortex or by which mechanisms NGR1 utilizes to confine said plasticity. In primary studies, NGR1 was selectively deleted in different cortical layers to …

Chemosensory Processing By The Mediodorsal Thalamus., Kelly Fredericksen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The mediodorsal thalamus (MD) is thought to be key component of the network that processes chemosensory information to guide our consummatory choices. Previous studies show that the mediodorsal thalamus receives projections from both the piriform cortex (PC) and gustatory cortex (GC), suggesting that it may process chemosensory information from both areas. Although the mediodorsal thalamus has been shown to respond to odors detected by sniffing, it remains unknown how its neurons represent experienced odors, tastes, and odor-taste mixtures originating from the mouth. Importantly, humans and animals with mediodorsal thalamic lesions do not suffer from anosmia, but experience deficits in odor …

Supraspinal Reorganization After Pediatric-Onset Spinal Cord Injury., Luis Alvarado

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Pediatric spinal cord injury (SCI) disrupts the efferent and afferent flow of the developing brain, leading to devastating functional impairments below the injury site, yet our understanding of its impact on the brain remains limited. This study examines supraspinal reorganization in children with SCI using electrophysiology and neuroimaging techniques to understand the relationship between residual spinal transmission and supraspinal reorganization. Chapter 2 discusses the development of a child-centric approach using ‘learn, play, and practice’ to foster a trusting relationship with each child and increase compliance with experimental protocols. Chapter 3 evaluates the residual neural transmission of three spinal pathways in …

Analysis Of Genes Responsible For Neuronal Morphological Changes In Down Syndrome Hipsc-Derived Neurons, Juhi Patel

Senior Theses

Down syndrome (DS) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder caused by the trisomy of chromosome 21. DS is the largest genetic cause of intellectual disability, which occurs in varying severity among affected individuals. It is associated with a variety of developmental and cognitive defects, including reduced brain size, impaired synaptic function, and altered neuronal morphology. A number of genes have been identified to play critical roles in the development and maintenance of neuronal morphology, and alterations in the expression of some of these genes are implicated in the morphological changes observed in DS. Knocking out or altering their expression leads to …

P120-Catenin Subfamily Members Have Distinct As Well As Shared Effects On Dendrite Morphology During Neuron Development In Vitro, Maxsam Donta

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Proper dendrite morphology is essential for neuronal connectivity and function, and abnormal dendrite morphology is seen in many neurological pathologies. This study characterizes and compares the effects of a group of four proteins – the p120-catenin subfamily – that regulate cytoskeletal remodeling and dendrite morphology. To do this, I tracked the endogenous localization of each p120-subfamily catenin during neuron development, and I determined how altering the expression of each p120-subfamily catenin affects dendrite morphology. I find that all catenins are expressed in dendritic processes and the soma, ARVCF-catenin is expressed at relatively high proportions in the nucleus, and p120-catenin and …

Effects Of Acute And Repeated Alcohol Exposure On Expression Of Synaptic-Associated Genes In The Male And Female Mouse Mpfc, Dhruba Podder

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a serious chronic brain disease; in 2021 there were ~29.5 million people in the U.S. diagnosed with AUD. Individuals with AUD often show cognitive impairment such as risky decision-making, difficulties with impulse control, and working memory deficits. This impairment is associated with structural and functional changes in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), an extensively interconnected region of the frontal lobe involved in executive control of goal-directed behaviors. Chronic alcohol exposure in rodents has been seen to cause deficits in performance in behavioral tasks which assess mPFC function such as working memory and behavioral flexibility. It is …

Systems Dynamics Of The Anterior Cingulate Cortex And Hippocampus In Behavioral Switching, Spatial Working Memory, And Disease, Ryan Wirt

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The electrophysiological properties of the hippocampus (HC) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) are the central focus of research on learning, memory, and neurological disease. Previous research has shown that HC is essential for forming new memories, spatial navigation, and temporal processing. While the function of ACC, located within the medial prefrontal cortex, remains controversial, it has a role in long-term memory recall, processing pain, monitoring current state, learning, schema updates, and information integrations. Interactions between the ACC and HC occur during social memory, spatial working memory performance, and long-term memory recall. Notably, the HC and ACC are among the first …

Music & Synesthesia: An Exploration Of Synesthesia And Its Relation To Musical Perception, Raquel S. Johnson

Pacific Undergraduate Research and Creativity Conference (PURCC)

This research investigates synesthesia and its impact on musical perception. Synesthesia is the multimodal sensory phenomenon in which the stimulation of one sensory modality generates the experience of a second, otherwise unrelated sense. Discussed topics include: a description of synesthesia and its neurophysiological and perceptual characteristics, the historical conceptualization and documentation of synesthesia beginning with the ancient Greeks, and present-day scientific inquiry. This research explores three varying types of auditory synesthesia - chromesthesia (sound-to-color synesthesia), auditory-tactile synesthesia, and sound-gustatory/sound-olfactory synesthesia - and their multimodal sensory characteristics in relation to music. Prominent neurophysiological hypotheses regarding the existence of synesthesia are examined, …

Sensing Is A Far Cry From Sentience, Antonio Damasio, Hanna Damasio

Animal Sentience

The hypothesis that plants might be sentient confuses the notion of sentience (or consciousness) with that of sensing. Sentience/consciousness implies feeling, experience, and subjectivity. Sensing does not. Plants can sense/detect and even respond appropriately in the absence of any sentience/consciousness.

Can Reconsolidation Account For The Misinformation Effect?, Olesya T. Frolova, Gabriel E. Hull

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

A successful replication of Rindal & Zaragoza (2016) would indicate that reconsolidation cannot account for the misinformation effect. Current preliminary data supports the results found by the original study, suggesting that an alternative theory must be explored to explain the misinformation effect. For example, it is possible that the original memory is not altered by the misinformation but competes with the original memory leading to temporary inaccessibility at test. Results from this study could influence law enforcement interview techniques to avoid false testimonies. One limitation of the study is that performance on the test was potentially too good; this will …

Understanding The Expression And Role Of Pros-1 In The Male Gonad Of C. Elegans, Jack Bozik

Undergraduate Theses

The gene pros-1 is a transcription factor that is highly expressed within neuronal sheath cells, glial cells, and excretory canal cells. pros-1 plays a role in cell determination of those cell types in the nematode C. elegans, which promotes organismal development. But the degree to which pros-1 presence is important is still not fully understood, because there are many genes involved in development that when mutated or damaged can result in unexpected phenotypes or even total loss of function to a certain developmental mechanism. What makes pros-1 valuable to research is that it is a functional homologue to a …

The Color Of Sound: An Insight On Chromesthesia, Lupe Rodriguez

Honors Capstones

Many people can see with their eyes, but there are some people who can see through sound. Chromesthesia is when sound involuntarily evokes an experience of color through shapes and movement. The goal of this project is to show what this experience is like and give people an opportunity to experience it in a way themselves.

The Color of Sound Website Prototype

The Relationship Between School Refusal Behavior And Executive Functions, Christina Saliba, Shreyas Bhat, Karina R. Carrillo-Juárez [email protected], Randolph Dupont

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

School refusal is a pressing issue that impacts children throughout the United States. School Refusal behaviors can be attributed to four distinct reasons: avoiding school because it induces negative emotions (ANA), avoiding social or evaluative situations (ESE), seeking attention from others (AGB), and pursuing rewards outside of the school environment (PTR) (Kearney, 2002). Executive functions are mechanisms that monitor and regulate cognitive processes and tasks. These include problem-solving, working memory, attention, and inhibition. Executive functions can be linked with various aspects of school achievement and cognitive development in children and adolescents (Sosic-Vasic, 2017). Previous research has shown that kindergarteners who …

Plant Sentience: The Burden Of Proof, Jon Mallatt, David G. Robinson, Michael R. Blatt, Andreas Draguhn, Lincoln Taiz

Animal Sentience

Segundo-Ortin & Calvo’s (2023) target article takes a less speculative and more evidence-based approach to plant sentience than did previous works promoting that idea. However, it retains many of the idea’s longstanding difficulties such as starting from a false dichotomy (plants must be either hardwired or sentient), not accepting the full burden of proof for an extraordinary claim, confusingly redefining accepted cognitive terms, implying cell consciousness, not adopting the most parsimonious explanations for plant behaviors, and downplaying all the counterevidence. We advise rectifying these problems before plant sentience can become a full-fledged scientific domain.

345 - The Effects Of Alcohol And Ketogenic Diet On Working Memory In Mice, Kaitlyn Dufresne, Sophia Azurin, Allison Bechard

GREAT Day Posters

The ketogenic diet (KD) is a high fat, low carb diet which is growing in popularity as a possible method to improve working memory and prevent alcohol use disorder (AUD). We used a mouse model where half of the mice were fed a standard diet (SD) while the other half were fed the KD. All mice experienced a 7 week drinking period where they were introduced to alcohol for 2 hours, 3 days a week. We then tested the mice in a working memory task. We modeled working memory using the Barnes maze. Mice escaped to a target hole in …

116 - The Effects Of Tetrahydrocannabinol On Circadian Rhythmicity And The Response To Nicotine In Long-Evans Rats, Lauren Mac Taggart, Anna Hendricks, Joey Morgan, Vincent Markowski

GREAT Day Posters

The marijuana legalization trend promotes the notion that cannabinoids such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can be safe and effective medications for conditions such as insomnia. Unfortunately, exposure to THC during development has been shown to impair cognition and motor behavior in humans and laboratory animals. The current study used VitalView software and cage-top infrared activity monitors to quantify the effects of a range of THC doses on activity and circadian rhythms in adult rats that were exposed to THC throughout adolescence. Rats were further administered acute nicotine drug challenges to determine if THC altered the development of the acetylcholine neurotransmitter system. …

126 - The Effects Of Perinatal Or Peripubertal Exposure To Tetrahydrocannabinol On Developmental Milestones, Motor Behavior, And Somatosensation In Rats, Anna Hendricks, Lindsey Toole, Allyson Surowick, Danielle Roemer, Vincent Markowski

GREAT Day Posters

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the primary psychoactive agent in marijuana, one of the most popular recreational drugs in the world. As the legalization trend in the U.S. expands, more women are consuming THC during pregnancy and more teens are experimenting with the drug. Unfortunately, the effects of THC on fetal and adolescent brain development are poorly understood. The current study was designed to identify the developmental and somatomotor effects of THC exposure. Long-Evans rats were assigned to one of two cohorts: prenatal exposure where pregnant rats were administered THC from gestational day 1 to postnatal day 21 or juvenile exposure where …

129 - Analysis Of Corpus Callosum And Ventricles In Brain Tissue Of Mk801/Cdppb Treated C57bl6/J Mice, Ryan Pelkey, Noah Massey, Evan Eshenaur, Zander Purcell, Vincent Markowski

GREAT Day Posters

The neurodevelopmental hypothesis depicts schizophrenia as a long-term consequence of aberrant development of the glutamate and dopamine neurotransmitter systems during the perinatal period. The drug MK-801 is a glutamate N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist that produces schizophrenia-like symptoms in laboratory rodents when administered early in development. Our laboratory has been investigating whether CDPPB, a positive allosteric modulator of the metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5), would reverse the effects of MK-801. To test this, mice were first administered 0.25 mg/kg MK-801 as neonates, and later given 10.0 mg/kg CDBBD or saline during their juvenile period. Previously, our lab found that MK-801 produced …

178 - Ketogenic Diet And Social Behavior In A Mouse Model Of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Macy Kuebler, Abigail Grzeskowiak, Emily Trabulsi, Abigail Schwartzman, Gabrielle Skiba

GREAT Day Posters

Impaired social interaction is one of three key diagnostic criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Other criteria for ASD include repetitive behavior and impaired communication skills. This developmental condition is increasing within the United States, yet no cure is currently available. Ketogenic diet (KD) is a high fat, low carb diet proven to help many neurological issues in humans and reduce repetitive behavior in the mouse model. This study uses a FVB mouse model predisposed to developing stereotypical behaviors, specifically, repetitive circling to investigate the effects of KD on social and repetitive behavior. Subjects were old and young mice fed …

Morphological Characterization Of Two Transgenic Strategies For Genetic Access To Semilunar Granule Neurons In The Mouse Dentate Gyrus, David T. Rexford

Masters Theses

Granule cells (GCs) of the dentate gyrus (DG) have been understood as a homogeneous class of neurons exhibiting a characteristic limited firing pattern. A subtype of GC called a semilunar granule cell (SGC) has been identified exhibiting variant morphology, electrophysiology, and positioning from normal GCs. SGCs represent an emerging novel subpopulation of GCs, however, there is presently no genetic tool to access SGCs separately from normal GCs. To provide access for future in vivo studies of this population, we examined two genetic strategies for putative SGC specificity in mouse brain slices. Morphological analysis was performed for quantitative identification of putative …

Recent Advances In The Role Of Rehabilitative Therapies For Parkinson’S Disease: A Literature Review, Bazza Sohail, Muhammad Affan Iqbal, Aisha Razzaq, Abdul Wasay Nafe, Robina Malik

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Regardless of medical therapies and surgical interventions for Parkinson’s disease, patients develop progressive disability. The role of therapies is to maximize functional ability and minimize secondary complications through movement rehabilitation within a context of education and support for the whole person. The overall aim is to optimize independence, safety and wellbeing, thereby enhancing quality of life. Trials have shown that physiotherapy has short-term benefits in Parkinson’s disease. However, which physiotherapy intervention are most effective remains unclear. This article provides a guidance framework rather than a ’recipe’ for treatment. This review shows that a wide range of rehabilitative therapy interventions to …

Functional Domains Of The Hsv-1 Ul37 Protein In Virus Infectivity And Retrograde Transport In Neurons, Carolyn Clark

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Herpes simplex virus type 1 is large alphaherpesvirus with 20 envelope proteins and 23 tegument proteins. Virus entry is via fusion of the viral envelope with cellular membranes mediated by a complex of viral glycoproteins. Glycoprotein B (gB) is the only fusogenic glycoprotein, while other viral glycoproteins and membrane proteins including gD, gH, gL, gK and UL20 membrane protein modulate gB’s fusogenicity. Previously, Our laboratory developed the HSV-1 (VC2) vaccines strain with partial deletions in the amino termini of gK (ΔgK(31–68)) and the UL20 membrane protein (ΔUL20(4–22)). VC2 enters epithelial cells only via endocytosis followed by release of the capsid …

Effects Of Cannabichromene On Pain And Neuroinflammation In Hiv-1 Tat Transgenic Mice, Sydney Wheeler

Honors Theses

HIV-1 TransActivator of Transcription (Tat) is a vital regulatory protein involved in HIV replication and implicated in development of HIV-associated pain and neurocognitive deficits. Tat is thought to contribute to these pathologies through proinflammatory pathways. Developing mechanisms to curb Tat-mediated inflammation is a key step in improving the quality of life of those living with HIV. Both recreational and medicinal cannabis use is prevalent among many people living with HIV; given this prevalence and the perceived anti-inflammatory benefits of cannabis use, it is important to investigate how chemical constituents of cannabis may impact HIV. In the present study, the effects …

Role Of Neuroinflammatory Response On Cell Proliferation Following Neurotoxic Lesioning In Zebrafish, Sarah Heinowski, Nathaniel Vorhees, Nathan Koorndyk, Helen Dodge

22nd Annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2023)

Parkinson's Disease (PD), a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by dopaminergic neuronal loss and motor impairment, affects roughly 1 in 500 people. Interestingly, olfaction loss, the loss of smell, is prevalent in over 95% of those with PD. Zebrafish provide a unique model to study neurodegenerative diseases, including PD, as they possess the unique ability to regenerate neurons (i.e., neurogenesis) throughout their lifespan. Contrary to mammals in which inflammation often has negative associations with neural injury recovery, inflammatory response within zebrafish is thought to have a key role in this regenerative capability. Thus, we aimed to inhibit the inflammatory response and investigate …

Neurodegeneration And Neuroinflammation In The Olfactory Bulb Of Zebrafish Following Acute Hypoxia, Skylar Dewitt, Evan Thomas

22nd Annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2023)

Hypoxia, the lack of sufficient oxygen in tissues to sustain bodily functions, has a deleterious effect on physiological and behavioral health. Unlike mammalian brains, which are restrained in their capacity to recover following damage and hypoxic injury, zebrafish are an excellent model to study exposure to hypoxia due to substantial neuroplasticity mechanisms within their brain. Specifically, the olfactory bulbs (OBs) display high neuroplasticity and neurogenesis (i.e., generation of new neurons), making it a useful model to study neural responses under stressed environmental conditions such as hypoxia. Here, we establish a new paradigm of hypoxic exposure in zebrafish to uncover the …

Expression Of Olfactory-Induced Anxiety Behaviors Following Hypoxia Treatment In Adult Zebrafish, Cassidy Larson, Luke Horsburgh, Cameron Houck, Skylar Dewitt

22nd Annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2023)

Exposure to hypoxic conditions leads to neural loss of function or death in the nervous system of mammals. Zebrafish, given their sophisticated neuroregenerative abilities, are able to survive low-oxygen conditions with fewer consequences. These capabilities are crucial for the olfactory system of zebrafish, as their olfactory epithelium is directly exposed to damage and toxins in the environment. Given that olfaction allows for critical behaviors such as foraging, mating, predator detection, and non-visual perception of dead fish, possessing functional olfactory sensation is vital to survival. Cadaverine is a chemical compound that mimics putrescine, the scent of decaying flesh. This scent induces …