Structure and function of neuronal dendrites
This article will first summarize basic functions of passive dendritic architecture which applies for most neurons but confers variable characterist ics to different types of neurons. It will be discussed how the location of input synapses in a passive electrical structure affects the integration of postsynaptic potentials. Then principles will be introduced how this localization-dependence of synaptic inputs into dendrites can be compensated f or. And finally, an identified Drosophila motoneuron will serve as an example that at least in specific types of neurons basic function can be maintained with a minimum number of ...
Source: e-Neuroforum - December 1, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
Cajal-Retzius cells: organizers of cortical development
AbstractCajal-Retzius cells (CRc) are a major neuronal population in the marginal zones of the developing neocortex and hippocampus. CRc belong to the earliest born neurons in the cortex and originate from several regions at the pallial-subpallial border. A substantial fraction of CRc disappears during postnatal development. CRc expres s a variety of neurotransmitter receptors, receive mainly GABAergic synaptic inputs and give rise to glutamatergic synapses. Recent studies identified some modes of how CRc are integrated into immature neuronal circuits, although their exact role for immature information processing remai...
Source: e-Neuroforum - December 1, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
Structure and function of neuronal dendrites
This article will first summarize basic functions of passive dendritic architecture which applies for most neurons but confers variable characterist ics to different types of neurons. It will be discussed how the location of input synapses in a passive electrical structure affects the integration of postsynaptic potentials. Then principles will be introduced how this localization-dependence of synaptic inputs into dendrites can be compensated f or. And finally, an identified Drosophila motoneuron will serve as an example that at least in specific types of neurons basic function can be maintained with a minimum number of ...
Source: e-Neuroforum - November 28, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
Cajal-Retzius cells: organizers of cortical development
AbstractCajal-Retzius cells (CRc) are a major neuronal population in the marginal zones of the developing neocortex and hippocampus. CRc belong to the earliest born neurons in the cortex and originate from several regions at the pallial-subpallial border. A substantial fraction of CRc disappears during postnatal development. CRc expres s a variety of neurotransmitter receptors, receive mainly GABAergic synaptic inputs and give rise to glutamatergic synapses. Recent studies identified some modes of how CRc are integrated into immature neuronal circuits, although their exact role for immature information processing remai...
Source: e-Neuroforum - November 27, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
Connectomics at cellular precision
AbstractThe complete mapping of neuronal circuits in at least parts of brains has received substantial attention recently. Methodological breakthroughs have made the imaging of ever larger tissue blocks realistic using 3 ‑dimensional electron microscopy. Analysis of such data, however, is still limiting the neuroscientific insights obtainable from cellular connectomics data. What is the state of this scientific field, which insights have been obtained, which are in reach? This brief overview summarizes the current knowledge in cellular connectomics. (Source: e-Neuroforum)
Source: e-Neuroforum - October 17, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
Connectivity and cortical architecture
AbstractBrain regions of the cerebral cortex differ in their cytoarchitecture as well as in the intrinsic connectivity within an area and the organization of macroscopic connections between different cortical areas. Nonetheless, it is not clear which rules underlie the relationship of cellular and fiber architecture, and how the characteristic cortical micro- and macro-connectivity are related to each other. In order to identify principles of cortical connectivity, we systematically investigate various parameters of cortical architecture and their relation to the organization of anatomical connections among cortical areas....
Source: e-Neuroforum - October 9, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
Linking connectomics and dynamics in the human brain
AbstractTo understand human cognition, it is essential to study the brain on multiple levels, from microscopic to macroscopic scales. Computational connectomics is a new area of neuroscience where scientists seek to combine empirical observations within a computational theory of the brain. The whole-brain network modeling and simulation platform, The Virtual Brain (TVB), is a remarkable innovation in the field of computational connectomics. By combining the connectivity of individual persons with local biologically realistic population models, TVB allows simulation and prediction of the local activity of neuronal popul...
Source: e-Neuroforum - September 12, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
Computational connectomics
(Source: e-Neuroforum)
Source: e-Neuroforum - September 5, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
Connectomics: a need for comparative studies
AbstractConnectomics, the study of circuit architecture, has the potential to reveal the connectivity of any brain or brain area with single-synapse resolution. This is extremely exciting but at the same time quite daunting. The exciting part is obvious. The daunting part is less so, and relates to the challenge of extracting principles from overwhelming masses of high-resolution data. You might say that it is a nice problem to have, and I will agree. What I will argue here is that, if our goal is to derive from such data a general and theoretical understanding of the brain, we must now more than ever take advantage o...
Source: e-Neuroforum - September 1, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
Linking connectomics and dynamics in the human brain
AbstractTo understand human cognition, it is essential to study the brain on multiple levels, from microscopic to macroscopic scales. Computational connectomics is a new area of neuroscience where scientists seek to combine empirical observations within a computational theory of the brain. The whole-brain network modeling and simulation platform, The Virtual Brain (TVB), is a remarkable innovation in the field of computational connectomics. By combining the connectivity of individual persons with local biologically realistic population models, TVB allows simulation and prediction of the local activity of neuronal popul...
Source: e-Neuroforum - September 1, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
Computational connectomics
(Source: e-Neuroforum)
Source: e-Neuroforum - September 1, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
The dynamic connectome
AbstractWhen trying to gain intuitions about the computations implemented in neural circuits, we often use comparisons with electronic circuits. However, one fundamental difference to hard-wired electronic circuits is that the structure of neural circuits undergoes constant remodeling. Here, we discuss recent findings highlighting the dynamic nature of neural circuits and the underlying mechanisms. The dynamics of neural circuits follows rules that explain steady state statistics of synaptic properties observed at a single time point. Interestingly, these rules allow the prediction of future network states and extend the...
Source: e-Neuroforum - September 1, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
Connectomics at cellular precision
AbstractThe complete mapping of neuronal circuits in at least parts of brains has received substantial attention recently. Methodological breakthroughs have made the imaging of ever larger tissue blocks realistic using 3 ‑dimensional electron microscopy. Analysis of such data, however, is still limiting the neuroscientific insights obtainable from cellular connectomics data. What is the state of this scientific field, which insights have been obtained, which are in reach? This brief overview summarizes the current knowledge in cellular connectomics. (Source: e-Neuroforum)
Source: e-Neuroforum - September 1, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
Connectivity and cortical architecture
AbstractBrain regions of the cerebral cortex differ in their cytoarchitecture as well as in the intrinsic connectivity within an area and the organization of macroscopic connections between different cortical areas. Nonetheless, it is not clear which rules underlie the relationship of cellular and fiber architecture, and how the characteristic cortical micro- and macro-connectivity are related to each other. In order to identify principles of cortical connectivity, we systematically investigate various parameters of cortical architecture and their relation to the organization of anatomical connections among cortical areas....
Source: e-Neuroforum - September 1, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
The dynamic connectome
AbstractWhen trying to gain intuitions about the computations implemented in neural circuits, we often use comparisons with electronic circuits. However, one fundamental difference to hard-wired electronic circuits is that the structure of neural circuits undergoes constant remodeling. Here, we discuss recent findings highlighting the dynamic nature of neural circuits and the underlying mechanisms. The dynamics of neural circuits follows rules that explain steady state statistics of synaptic properties observed at a single time point. Interestingly, these rules allow the prediction of future network states and extend the...
Source: e-Neuroforum - August 15, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
