Neurosciences Commons^™

Optogenetic Interrogation Of Functional Synapse Formation By Corticospinal Tract Axons In The Injured Spinal Cord, Naveen Jayaprakash, Zimei Wang, Brian Hoeynck, Nicholas Krueger, Audra A. Kramer, Eric Balle, Daniel S. Wheeler, Robert A. Wheeler, Murray G. Blackmore

Biomedical Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

To restore function after injury to the CNS, axons must be stimulated to extend into denervated territory and, critically, must form functional synapses with appropriate targets. We showed previously that forced overexpression of the transcription factor Sox11 increases axon growth by corticospinal tract (CST) neurons after spinal injury. However, behavioral outcomes were not improved, raising the question of whether the newly sprouted axons are able to form functional synapses. Here we developed an optogenetic strategy, paired with single-unit extracellular recordings, to assess the ability of Sox11-stimulated CST axons to functionally integrate in the circuitry of the cervical spinal cord. Initial …

Reverse Engineering A Kinetic Model Of A Dopaminergic Neuron To Apoptosis, Johnathan Morris

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

Revealing The Quality Of Movement: A Meta-Analysis Review To Quantify The Thresholds To Pathological Variability During Standing And Walking, Niklas König Ignasiak

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Neuromotor processes are inherently noisy, which results in variability during movement and fluctu-ations in motor control. Although controversial, low levels of variability are traditionally considered healthy, while increased levels are thought to be pathological. This systematic review and meta-analysisof the literature investigates the thresholds between healthy and pathological task variability.

After examining 13,195 publications, 109 studies were included. Results from over 3000 healthy sub-jects and 2775 patients revealed an overall positive effect size of pathology on variability of 0.59 forwalking and 0.80 for sway. For the coefficient of variation of stride time (ST) and sway area (SA), upperthresholds of 2.6% …

Focusing On Selection For Fixation, John K. Tsotsos, Calden Wloka, Yulia Kotseruba

MODVIS Workshop

Building on our presentation at MODVIS 2015, we continue in our quest to discover a functional, computational, explanation of the relationship among visual attention, interpretation of visual stimuli, and eye movements, and how these produce visual behavior. Here, we focus on one component, how selection is accomplished for the next fixation. The popularity of saliency map models drives the inference that this is solved; we suggested otherwise at MODVIS 2015. Here, we provide additional empirical and theoretical arguments. We then develop arguments that a cluster of complementary, conspicuity representations drive selection, modulated by task goals and history, leading to a …

Metabolic Drift In The Aging Brain., Julijana Ivanisevic, Kelly L. Stauch, Michael Petrascheck, H. Paul Benton, Adrian A. Epstein, Mingliang Fang, Santhi Gorantla, Minerva Tran, Linh Hoang, Michael E. Kurczy, Michael D. Boska, Howard Gendelman, Howard S. Fox, Gary Siuzdak

Journal Articles: Pharmacology & Experimental Neuroscience

Brain function is highly dependent upon controlled energy metabolism whose loss heralds cognitive impairments. This is particularly notable in the aged individuals and in age-related neurodegenerative diseases. However, how metabolic homeostasis is disrupted in the aging brain is still poorly understood. Here we performed global, metabolomic and proteomic analyses across different anatomical regions of mouse brain at different stages of its adult lifespan. Interestingly, while severe proteomic imbalance was absent, global-untargeted metabolomics revealed an energymetabolic drift or significant imbalance in core metabolite levels in aged mouse brains. Metabolic imbalance was characterized by compromised cellular energy status (NAD decline, increased AMP/ATP, …

Leukemia Inhibitory Factor As A Neuroprotective Agent Against Focal Cerebral Ischemia, Stephanie Davis

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Previous publications from this laboratory demonstrated that administration of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) (125 µg/kg) to young, male Sprague-Dawley rats at 6, 24, and 48 h after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) reduced infract volume, improved sensimotor skills, and alleviated damage to white matter at 72 h after the injury. In vitro studies using cultured oligodendrocytes (OLs) showed that LIF (200 ng/ml) also protects against 24 h of oxygen-glucose deprivation through activation of Akt signaling and upregulation of the antioxidant enzymes peroxiredoxin IV and metallothionein III. Other groups have demonstrated that LIF reduces neurodegeneration in animal models of disease, but …

The Neural Roots Of Mathematical Expertise, Daniel Ansari

Brain and Mind Institute Researchers' Publications

No abstract provided.

Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide Orchestrates Neuronal Regulation Of The Astrocytic Glutamate-Releasing Mechanism System XC−, Linghai Kong, Rebecca Albano, Aric Madayag, Nicholas Raddatz, John R. Mantsch, Sujean Choi, Doug Lobner, David A. Baker

Biomedical Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Glutamate signaling is achieved by an elaborate network involving neurons and astrocytes. Hence, it is critical to better understand how neurons and astrocytes interact to coordinate the cellular regulation of glutamate signaling. In these studies, we used rat cortical cell cultures to examine whether neurons or releasable neuronal factors were capable of regulating system x_c^-(Sxc), a glutamate-releasing mechanism that is expressed primarily by astrocytes and has been shown to regulate synaptic transmission. We found that astrocytes cultured with neurons or exposed to neuronal-conditioned media displayed significantly higher levels of Sxc activity. Next, we demonstrated that the pituitary …

Estrogen's Effects On Oxidative Stress Levels In Glial Cells, Jacob J. Dirkman

Theses and Dissertations

A decrease in astrocyte function and viability has been linked to many neurodegenerative diseases, including schizophrenia, major depressive disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Previous research indicates that some estrogens may have a positive effect on neuron and astrocyte viability. Estrogens’ effects on the brain are of interest as estrogens are commonly prescribed as hormone replacement therapy to reduce the symptoms of menopause in women. Unfortunately, these effects on are not completely understood. The goal of the project was to discover if estrogen has any protective effect on astrocytes exposed to oxidative stress. We measured the oxidative stress …

The Effects Of Hypohydration On Neurocognitive, Balance, Vestibular Ocular Motor Functions And Mood State, Satoshi Iida

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Inconsistent findings have been observed on the impact of hydration state on cognitive functions. The isolated effect of hypohydration on neurocognitive performance, balance, vestibular ocular motor function and mood outcomes in widely used concussion assessment tools has not been studied. The purpose of this study was to investigate how hypohydration affected the results in concussion testing batteries. A single-blind randomized crossover design was used. Thirteen healthy males (22 ± 4y, 180.9 ± 5.7cm) without history of concussion within the past six months or any condition or disease that could influence outcome measurements participated in this study. Each subject completed concussion …

Assessing Clinical Significance Of The Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment And Cognitive Testing Battery When Comparing Adjusted And Unadjusted Rci Methods For Different Ranges Of Baseline Scores, Ashley N. Figaro

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The growing concern revolving around the dangers of sports-related concussions have led to the most recent implementation of neurocognitive (NC) test batteries as a means to objectively determine the presence of a cognitive defect. Whereas any other sports-related injury can be diagnosed with tools such as an x-ray or MRI, a concussion represents a metabolic disturbance that cannot be identified by these diagnostic tools. Many neurocognitive test batteries employ statistical techniques to derive cut off scores in order to represent significant or insignificant changes as compared to individual baseline scores, or pre-established normative values. If an individuals’ post-injury score exceeds …

Examining The Roles Of Gabaa Receptor Subtypes In Anxiety And Anxiolysis: Focusing On The Basolateral Amygdala, Yudong Gao

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

The investigation of the differential roles GABA_A receptor (GABA_AR) subtypes play in mediating various behaviors such as fear and anxiety was an intriguing research topic over the past decade. At present, most evidence suggests that benzodiazepine (BZ)-induced anxiolysis is primarily mediated by GABA_ARs containing the α2-subunit (α2-subtype). However, there is conflicting evidence as to whether α1- and α3-subtypes might also be involved in BZ-induced anxiolysis. In an attempt to further discern the role played by different α-subtype GABA_ARs in BZ-induced anxiolysis both systemically and within the basolateral amygdala (BLA), a brain region crucial …

Antibodies To Heterogenous Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein A1 Penetrate Neurons Leading To Multiple Downstream Effects Resulting In Neurodegeneration, Joshua Nathan Douglas

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system. MS is believed to occur in genetically susceptible individuals due to an unknown environmental stimulus. MS patients produce autoantibodies to heterogenous nuclear ribonuclearprotein A1 (hnRNP A1), an RNA binding protein (RBP) highly expressed in neurons. hnRNP A1 functions in pre-mRNA splicing, mRNA trafficking, and translation. Furthermore, the anti-hnRNP A1 antibodies are specific to a N-terminal region termed ‘M9’ which serves as a nuclear export sequence/nuclear localization sequence (NES/NLS) responsible for nuclear/cytoplasmic transport of the protein. In this manuscript we will provide data revealing that anti-hnRNP A1 …

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury With Associated Visual System Dysfunction: Investigating Histopathology, Functional Correlates, And A Novel Therapeutic Immune Modulator, Natalie M. Guley

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Background. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant source of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Injuries associated with moderate to severe TBI can be profound, and have historically overshadowed the significant impact mild TBI (mTBI) can have on the lives of affected individuals. Mild TBI can manifest in a number of different ways, but one of the most significant and often debilitating is its impact on the visual system. In order to further investigate the underlying pathology of mTBI and test potential therapeutics, we developed a mouse model of mTBI induced by blast overpressure. In this model, a 50-60 psi …

Development Of Electrochemical Sensors Suitable For In Vivo Detection For Neurotransmitters, Mengjia Hu

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The electrochemical method of redox cycling was exploited to achieve new discoveries in neurotransmitter detection and to advance its suitability toward in vivo use. Redox cycling has advantages in signal amplification, selectivity of species based on their electrochemical reaction mechanisms, and limited or no background subtraction. Distinction of dopamine from norepinephrine in a mixture with an electrochemical method at unmodified electrodes was demonstrated for the first time in vitro. This ability resulted from a series of fundamental studies of redox cycling behavior of the catecholamines (dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine) using different electrode configurations. Taking advantage of the ECC’ mechanism associated …

Challenges In Mathematical Cognition: A Collaboratively-Derived Research Agenda, Lara Alcock, Daniel Ansari, Sophie Batchelor, Marie-Josee Bisson, Bert De Smedt, Camilla Gilmore, Silke M. Gobel, Minna Hannula-Sormunen, Jeremy Hodgen, Matthew Inglis, Ian Jones, Michele Mazzocco, Nicole Mcneil, Michael Schneider, Victoria Simms, Keith Weber

Brain and Mind Institute Researchers' Publications

This paper reports on a collaborative exercise designed to generate a coherent agenda for research on mathematical cognition. Following an established method, the exercise brought together 16 mathematical cognition researchers from across the fields of mathematics education, psychology and neuroscience. These participants engaged in a process in which they generated an initial list of research questions with the potential to significantly advance understanding of mathematical cognition, winnowed this list to a smaller set of priority questions, and refined the eventual questions to meet criteria related to clarity, specificity and practicability. The resulting list comprises 26 questions divided into six broad …

In Synch But Not In Step: Circadian Clock Circuits Regulating Plasticity In Daily Rhythms, Jennifer A. Evans, M. R. Gorman

Biomedical Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is a network of neural oscillators that program daily rhythms in mammalian behavior and physiology. Over the last decade much has been learned about how SCN clock neurons coordinate together in time and space to form a cohesive population. Despite this insight, much remains unknown about how SCN neurons communicate with one another to produce emergent properties of the network. Here we review the current understanding of communication among SCN clock cells and highlight a collection of formal assays where changes in SCN interactions provide for plasticity in the waveform of circadian rhythms in behavior. Future …

Gradenigo Syndrome: A Rare Complication Of Otitis Media, Paul Brent Ferguson, Md

Marshall Journal of Medicine

Gradenigo syndrome is a very rare complication of otitis media that if left unrecognized and subsequently untreated will result in severe neurologic sequelae. Gradenigo Syndrome clinically represented by the triad of otitis media, ipsilateral, abducens nerve palsy and dysasthesia within the V1 and V2 divisions of the trigeminal nerve branches. We describe a 4 year-old patient who presented with headache, facial pain, diplopia and a recent history of upper respiratory tract symptomatology. Examination revealed an abducens palsy with subsequent magnetic resonance imaging demonstrating inflammation in the left petrous apex and along the tracts of the 6^th, 7^{th …}

1st Place Contest Entry: The Effectiveness Of Yoga Therapy On An Adult, Post-Stroke Population: A Systematic Review, Baylor E. Hogan

Kevin and Tam Ross Undergraduate Research Prize

This is Baylor Hogan's submission for the 2016 Kevin and Tam Ross Undergraduate Research Prize, which won first place. She wrote about the effects of yoga therapy on the physical and mental wellbeing of stroke patients. You can read the final essay that came out of her research here.

Baylor is a senior at Chapman University, majoring in Kinesiology. Her faculty mentor is Dr. Elizabeth DeBaets.

Gene Expression Profiling In An Alzheimer's Disease Mouse Model, Matthew R. Dalton

Senior Honors Theses

Explaining precisely how Alzheimer’s disease (AD)—the world’s most common form of dementia—materializes in the human brain has proven to be one of the most elusive ends in modern medicine. Progressive memory loss, neurodegeneration, and the presence of abnormal protein aggregates of amyloid-beta (Aβ) and neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) characterize this disease. Genome sequencing provides researchers with the ability to better identify disease-related changes in gene expression, some of which may play a role in the initiation and progression toward the AD-like state. Intimate interactions between tissues have been observed in many diseases, particularly between the brain and blood. This analysis seeks …