Neuroscience and Neurobiology Commons^™

Deconstructing Circadian Disruption: Assessing The Contribution Of Reduced Peripheral Oscillator Amplitude On Obesity And Glucose Intolerance In Mice, Vincent Van Der Vinne, Blanca Martin Burgos, Mary E. Harrington, David R. Weaver

Psychology: Faculty Publications

Disturbing the circadian regulation of physiology by disruption of the rhythmic environment is associated with adverse health outcomes but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. Here, the response of central and peripheral circadian clocks to an advance or delay of the light-dark cycle was determined in mice. This identified transient damping of peripheral clocks as a consequence of an advanced light-dark cycle. Similar depression of peripheral rhythm amplitude was observed in mice exposed to repeated phase shifts. To assess the metabolic consequences of such peripheral amplitude depression in isolation, temporally chimeric mice lacking a functional central clock (Vgat-Cre+ Bmal1fl/fl) were housed …

Developing Outreach Events That Impact Underrepresented Students: Are We Doing It Right?, Andrew J. Gall, Peter J. Vollbrecht, Tristan Tobias

Faculty Publications

Many outreach programs share the common goals of serving underrepresented groups in STEM and improving public attitudes toward science. To meet these goals, scientists must find ways to both reach the appropriate audience and communicate the importance of science in meaningful and accessible ways. This requires careful consideration of the outreach method being used. Two common outreach methods include in‐school visits (scientist in the classroom) and science fairs or open houses. Here, we compare the effectiveness of these two outreach methods in meeting the goals of reaching underrepresented students and/or students with less initial interest in science. We have found …

Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation-Paired Rehabilitation For Oromotor Feeding Problems In Newborns: An Open-Label Pilot Study, Bashar W. Badran, Dorothea D. Jenkins, Daniel Cook, Sean Thompson, Morgan Darcy, William H. Devries, Georgia Mappin, Philipp Summers, Marom Bikson, Mark S. George

Publications and Research

Neonates born premature or who suffer brain injury at birth often have oral feeding dysfunction and do not meet oral intake requirements needed for discharge. Low oral intake volumes result in extended stays in the hospital (>2 months) and can lead to surgical implant and explant of a gastrostomy tube (G-tube). Prior work suggests pairing vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) with motor activity accelerates functional improvements after stroke, and transcutaneous auricular VNS (taVNS) has emerged as promising noninvasive form of VNS. Pairing taVNS with bottle-feeding rehabilitation may improve oromotor coordination and lead to improved oral intake volumes, ultimately avoiding the …

Quench Assisted (Quest) Mri Used As A Novel Approach To Identify Reactive Oxygen Species As A Result Of Experimental Tbi, Ethan M. Cohen, Eric Chang, Michael C. Schneider, Abigail Teitelbaum, Alexander R. Woznicki, Rachel E. Godfrey, Robert H. Podolsky, Karen L. Childers, Robin Roberts, Bruce A. Berkowitz, Kelly E. Bosse, Alana C. Conti

Medical Student Research Symposium

Introduction:

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), promoting inflammatory processes and impeding TBI recovery. Within the VA population, over 70% of military personnel that sustain a TBI receive opioid-based pain relief, however, opiates may actually exacerbate post-TBI complications through its documented recruitment of oxidative and inflammatory systems. Thus, we hypothesize that TBI and opioid treatment act synergistically to worsen post-TBI oxidative stress.

Methods:

Mice were exposed to either TBI or sham injury and administered morphine or saline in the acute post-injury period. Afterwards, neuroimaging was conducted using a novel technique, QUEnch assiSTed (QUEST) MRI, which compares standard …

Pornography: Adolescent Brain Development & Addiction, William K. Canady

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

This presentation will explain the historical development of pornography. It will highlight three segments: 1- Porn’s impact on brain development of reward pathways, ultimately increasing the appetite for more porn. 2- Porn can be a false substitute for real intimacy, resulting in decreased sexual satisfaction with a real person and increased verbal and physical aggression. 3- Porn promotes sex trafficking, promotes multiple sex partners and reduced STD prevention.

Do Social Networks Impact Perceived Loneliness In Caregivers To Older Adults With Chronic Conditions?, Janelle N. Beadle, Hayley Fouche, Angela Gifford

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

The abstract is not published at this time to protect intellectual property.

Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sensorimotor Synchronization With Different Forms Of Rhythms, Ryan Meidinger

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

Neural activity exhibits non-periodic rhythm [2] but it is unknown if neural activity synchronizes with non-periodic rhythms, as it does with periodic rhythms [1]. The purpose of this research is to determine the neural mechanisms present leading to synchronized finger tapping to varying rhythms. Twenty healthy young adults tapped their finger on a pressure sensitive pad, listened to metronomes, and wore a electroencephalogram (EEG) during synchronized finger tapping tasks (periodic, fractal, and random). Inter-tap intervals (ITIs), inter-beat intervals (IBIs), and frequency tags were used as the behavioral and cortical synchronization with the metronome. One-way ANOVAs were used to determine differences …

Effects Of Novel Tool Use: Cortical And Functional Measures In Children Using A Prosthetic Simulator, Chris Copeland

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

As of 2005, there were a total of 1.6 million people living with the loss of a limb, with this population projected to double to 3.6 million by 2050 [1]. While prostheses aim to enhance the function of these individuals, it is estimated that 45% of pediatric prosthetic users reject their prosthesis [2]. The literature which describes the neurological control mechanisms of prosthetic use is sparse and often low-powered due to an inadequate number of participants. However, prosthetic simulators may be a solution to chronically low-powered prosthetic-centric studies by serving as functional homologues, though this has yet to be tested. …

Non-Amyloid Approaches To Disease Modification For Alzheimer’S Disease: An Eu/Us Ctad Task Force Report, Serge Gauthier, P. S. Aisen, J. Cummings, M. J. Detke, F. M. Longo, R. Raman, M. Sabbagh, L. Schneider, R. Tanzi, P. Tariot, M. Weiner, J. Touchon, B. Vellas

School of Medicine Faculty Research

© 2020, The Author(s). While amyloid-targeting therapies continue to predominate in the Alzheimer’s disease (AD) drug development pipeline, there is increasing recognition that to effectively treat the disease it may be necessary to target other mechanisms and pathways as well. In December 2019, The EU/US CTAD Task Force discussed these alternative approaches to disease modification in AD, focusing on tau-targeting therapies, neurotrophin receptor modulation, anti-microbial strategies, and the innate immune response; as well as vascular approaches, aging, and non-pharmacological approaches such as lifestyle intervention strategies, photobiomodulation and neurostimulation. The Task Force proposed a general strategy to accelerate the development of …

Hydrogen Peroxide Triggers An Increase In Cell Surface Expression Of System XC− In Cultured Human Glioma Cells, Leah A. Chase, Mary Verheulen Kleyn, Natasha Schiller, Abby Goltz King, Guillermo Flores, Sasha Balcazar Engelsman, Christina Bowles, Sara Lang Smith, Anne E. Robinson, Jeffrey Rothstein

Faculty Publications

System x_c⁻ exchanges extracellular cystine for intracellular glutamate across the plasma membrane of many cell types. One of the physiological roles of System x_c⁻ is to provide cystine for synthesis of the antioxidant glutathione. Here we report that hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) triggers the translocation of System x_c⁻ to the plasma membrane within 10 min of the initial exposure. Specifically, we observed a three-fold increase in ³⁵S-L-cystine uptake following a 10 min exposure to 0.3 mM H₂O₂. This effect was dose-dependent with an EC₅₀ for …

Antagonistic Regulation Of Circadian Output And Synaptic Development By Jetlag And The Dyschronic-Slowpoke Complex, Angelique Lamaze, James E.C. Jepson, Oghenerukevwe Akpoghiran, Kyunghee Koh

Department of Neuroscience Faculty Papers

Circadian output genes act downstream of the clock to promote rhythmic changes in behavior and physiology, yet their molecular and cellular functions are not well understood. Here we characterize an interaction between regulators of circadian entrainment, output, and synaptic development in Drosophila that influences clock-driven anticipatory increases in morning and evening activity. We previously showed the JETLAG (JET) E3 ubiquitin ligase resets the clock upon light exposure, whereas the PDZ protein DYSCHRONIC (DYSC) regulates circadian locomotor output and synaptic development. Surprisingly, we find that JET and DYSC antagonistically regulate synaptic development at the larval neuromuscular junction, and reduced JET activity …

Carbon Dioxide Attracts Nesting Behavior In Captive African Naked Mole-Rats, Dan Mccloskey

Publications and Research

This dataset contains raw Radio Frequency Identification data for a 185 hour gas infusion study conducted in the TT-2 colony at the College of Staten Island in May-June 2019. The purpose of this experiment was to determine whether colony members would be attracted to a chamber with elevated carbon dioxide levels matching the highest values recorded in the typical colony nest. The results show a significant attraction to the CO2-infused chamber during and after the period of CO2 in=fusion, with the relocation of the colony nest to this site for the first time in the history of this colony. These …

Assessing Time-Resolved Fnirs For Brain-Computer Interface Applications Of Mental Communication, Androu Abdalmalak, Daniel Milej, Lawrence C.M. Yip, Ali R. Khan, Mamadou Diop, Adrian M. Owen, Keith St. Lawrence

BrainsCAN Publications

© 2020 Abdalmalak, Milej, Yip, Khan, Diop, Owen and St. Lawrence. Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are becoming increasingly popular as a tool to improve the quality of life of patients with disabilities. Recently, time-resolved functional near-infrared spectroscopy (TR-fNIRS) based BCIs are gaining traction because of their enhanced depth sensitivity leading to lower signal contamination from the extracerebral layers. This study presents the first account of TR-fNIRS based BCI for “mental communication” on healthy participants. Twenty-one (21) participants were recruited and were repeatedly asked a series of questions where they were instructed to imagine playing tennis for “yes” and to stay relaxed …

B Cells Migrate Into Remote Brain Areas And Support Neurogenesis And Functional Recovery After Focal Stroke In Mice, Sterling B. Ortega, Vanessa O. Torres, Sarah E. Latchney, Cody W. Whoolery, Ibrahim Z. Noorbhai, Katie Poinsatte, Uma M. Selvaraj, Monica A. Benson, Anouk J. M. Meeuwissen, Erik J. Plautz, Xiangmei Kong, Denise M. Ramirez, Apoorva D. Ajay, Julian P. Meeks, Mark P. Goldberg, Nancy L. Monson, Amelia J. Eisch, Ann M. Stowe

Neurology Faculty Publications

Lymphocytes infiltrate the stroke core and penumbra and often exacerbate cellular injury. B cells, however, are lymphocytes that do not contribute to acute pathology but can support recovery. B cell adoptive transfer to mice reduced infarct volumes 3 and 7 d after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAo), independent of changing immune populations in recipient mice. Testing a direct neurotrophic effect, B cells cocultured with mixed cortical cells protected neurons and maintained dendritic arborization after oxygen-glucose deprivation. Whole-brain volumetric serial two-photon tomography (STPT) and a custom-developed image analysis pipeline visualized and quantified poststroke B cell diapedesis throughout the brain, including …

Quantitative Proteomics Reveal An Altered Pattern Of Protein Expression In Brain Tissue From Mice Lacking Gpr37 And Gpr37l1, Trang Kimberly Thu Nguyen, Eric B. Dammer, Sharon A. Owino, Michelle M. Giddens, Nora S. Madaras, Duc M. Duong, Nicholas T. Seyfried, Randy A. Hall

Neuroscience: Faculty Publications

GPR37 and GPR37L1 are glia-enriched G protein-coupled receptors that have been implicated in several neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. To gain insight into the potential molecular mechanisms by which GPR37 and GPR37L1 regulate cellular physiology, proteomic analyses of whole mouse brain tissue from wild-type (WT) versus GPR37/GPR37L1 double knockout (DKO) mice were performed in order to identify proteins regulated by the absence versus presence of these receptors (data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD015202). These analyses revealed a number of proteins that were significantly increased or decreased by the absence of GPR37 and GPR37L1. One of the most decreased proteins …

Activation Of The Sonic Hedgehog Effector Smoothened Counteracts L-Dopa Induced Dyskinesia By Restoring Cholinergic Interneuron Function, Lauren Malave

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Many types of neurons act as multimodal signaling centers. Yet, we have only limited insight into the regulation and functional consequences of neuronal co-transmission. For example, dopamine (DA) neurons, whose degeneration causes motor deficits characteristic of Parkinson’s Diseases (PD), communicate with all their targets by DA but only a selective subset of their targets using GABA, Glutamate, and the secreted cell signaling protein Sonic Hedgehog (Shh). It is unknown whether Levo-dopamine (L-Dopa) induced dyskinesia (LIDs), a severely debilitating side effect of DA supplementation in PD, might appear because DA neuron targets are exposed to high DA- but low Shh- signaling …

Expression Analysis Of Cnidarian-Specific Neuropeptides In A Sea Anemone Unveils An Apical-Organ-Associated Nerve Net That Disintegrates At Metamorphosis, Hannah Zang, Nagayasu Nakanishi

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Neuropeptides are ancient neuronal signaling molecules that have diversified across Cnidaria (e.g., jellyfish, corals, and sea anemones) and its sister group Bilateria (e.g., vertebrates, insects, and worms). Over the course of neuropeptide evolution emerged lineage-specific neuropeptides, but their roles in the evolution and diversification of nervous system function remain enigmatic. As a step toward filling in this knowledge gap, we investigated the expression pattern of a cnidarian-specific neuropeptide—RPamide—during the development of the starlet sea anemone Nematostella vectensis, using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. We show that RPamide precursor transcripts first occur during gastrulation in scattered epithelial cells of the …

Mapping The Spatial And Temporal Dynamics Of Visual Percepts Elicited By A Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation Technique, Kelly Webster

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

While many of us rely on vision to interact with and experience the world, for people with damage or disease to the eye or visual cortex, experience through this modality is extremely limited. Brain and retinal stimulation devices show exciting promise for restoring vision, but little is understood about where and when vision percepts can be induced through stimulation. Using a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), we characterized the spatial and temporal dynamics of perception induced through brain stimulation. In the first set of experiments, we explore the importance of higher visual and non-visual areas vs. …

Experience-Dependent Changes In Nucleus Accumbens Activity Predict Cued Approach Learning: Contribution Of Nmda Receptors, Mercedes Vega Villar

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Animals learn associations between environmental cues and the natural rewards they predict (e.g., food, water, sex). As a result, reward-predictive cues come to trigger vigorous reward-seeking responses. Many neurons in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) become excited upon presentation of an already-learned reward-predictive cue. These NAc responses encode the motivational value of the cue and are necessary for the expression of the subsequent approach behavior. However, the precise temporal relationship between the emergence of cue-evoked excitations in the NAc and the acquisition of cued approach behavior remains unknown. In Experiment 1, NAc activity was recorded as rats learned to approach a …

Blocking Visual Awareness With Continuous Flash Suppression Prevents Cognitive Control, Jonathan Lovoi

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Cognitive control refers to a set of functions that allow for the execution of goal-directed behavior while remaining flexible to changes in task demands. Findings addressing whether or not awareness is necessary to elicit cognitive control are inconsistent, possibly stemming from the short stimulus presentation times employed in most masking paradigms, which could prevent sufficient processing time in some cases or provide a gist of the masked stimulus in other cases. The present study examined the necessity of awareness in cognitive control using Continuous Flash Suppression (CFS) to suppress stimulus awareness for periods of time longer than possible with other …