Principles of emotional brain circuit maturation

Article Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Vision-dependent specification of cell types and function in the developing cortex

Sarah Cheng et al.

Summary: This study explores the role of postnatal experience in shaping cortical circuitry at the level of cell types in the mouse primary visual cortex. The findings suggest that vision selectively drives the development of upper-layer glutamatergic cell types, while deeper-layer cell types are established prior to eye opening. Furthermore, vision also influences the formation of a spatial continuum of L2/3 cell types through the regulation of specific gene expression programs. One of these vision-dependent genes, Igsf9b, is crucial for the normal development of binocular responses in L2/3.

CELL (2022)

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Article Cell Biology

Early stress-induced impaired microglial pruning of excitatory synapses on immature CRH-expressing neurons provokes aberrant adult stress responses

Jessica L. Bolton et al.

Summary: This study reveals the impact of early-life adversity (ELA) on stress-related brain circuit maturation, highlighting the role of microglia in shaping the connectivity of stress-regulating neurons. ELA disrupts the developmental synapse pruning process by microglia, leading to an increase in excitatory synapses onto stress-sensitive neurons. Attenuated microglial dynamics and synaptic element engulfment were observed in ELA mice, associated with deficient signaling of the microglial phagocytic receptor MerTK. Selective activation of ELA microglia can normalize stress responses in adult mice, indicating the potential therapeutic role of targeting microglial actions in reducing vulnerability to stress-related mental illnesses.

CELL REPORTS (2022)

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Article Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology

Deep brain optogenetics without intracranial surgery

Ritchie Chen et al.

Summary: Achieving precise control over specific neural circuits in the deep brain without surgery is possible using ChRmine, enabling behavioral modulation and optogenetic control of neural activity at unprecedented depths.

NATURE BIOTECHNOLOGY (2021)

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Review Neurosciences

Mechanisms governing activity-dependent synaptic pruning in the developing mammalian CNS

Travis E. Faust et al.

Summary: The review discusses the impact of neural activity on developmental synaptic pruning in the mammalian central nervous system, as well as how alterations in this process can occur in neurodevelopmental disorders.

NATURE REVIEWS NEUROSCIENCE (2021)

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Review Neurosciences