A new analytical paradigm allows direct estimation of multiplicative increases in synaptic protein levels during homeostatic scaling in neuronal cultures. This method can quantify multiplicative scaling using immunocytochemistry for any pre- or postsynaptic protein within distinct neuronal compartments and could be used in future studies to characterize homeostatic scaling deficits in disease models. Together with super-resolution microscopy this analysis revealed that subsynaptic pools of AMPA receptors are altered differentially within functional zones of an excitatory synapse.

Now is the time for the global STEM community to leverage speech-to-text (S2T) technologies in new ways that can benefit everyone, including those with hearing loss.

ALS-associated G85R-SOD1 inhibits synaptic transmission in the squid giant synapse. ALS-associated G85R-SOD1 increases Ca2+ concentration at the presynaptic terminal including the “Palm” region, which lacks Ca2+ channels, suggesting potential Ca2+ reservoir in the presynaptic compartment. Surprisingly, intermittent High Frequency Stimulation (iHFS), which normally depletes synaptic vesicles and causes synaptic depression, rescued synaptic function affected by G85R-SOD1 when applied every 30 minutes before and during G85R-SOD1 protein infusion.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a bacterial endotoxin that induces innate immune responses. The present study aimed to elucidate alterations in cerebral cortical surface morphology induced by neonatal exposure to LPS using gyrencephalic ferrets. Male ferret pups received a subcutaneous injection of LPS (0.5 μg/kg of body weight) on postnatal days (PDs) 6 and 7. Furthermore, EdU and BrdU were administered on PDs 5 and 7, respectively, to label post-proliferative and proliferating cells that were exposed to LPS in the late stage of cortical neurogenesis. On PD 20 when the primary sulci and gyri had formed, MRI-based morphometry revealed an anterior shift in sulcal infolding in the medial and dorsolateral cortices of LPS-exposed ferrets. Immunofluorescence analysis showed that LPS increased the density of BrdU-labeled cells and reduced their apoptosis, as indicated by cleaved caspase-3 immunostaining, in the outer stratum of the lateral sulcus located on the parietal association cortex. Furthermore, cleaved caspa...

Nicole Garbarini is a media and communications specialist at NIH in the Office of the Director/Office of Extramural Research. Garbarini talks about the importance of her PhD in this role, and why she fit into this communication role.

It can be a challenge to avoid distractions and accomplish what needs to get done. Eight students and professors share what helps them manage their time and stay on top of daily tasks. Some of their suggestions include finding someone to hold you accountable, color-coding your calendars, and breaking projects into chunks. Read on for more tips.

There is a growing imperative to understand the neurophysiological impact of our rapidly changing and diverse technological, social, chemical, and physical environments. To untangle the multidimensional and interacting effects requires data at scale across diverse populations, taking measurement out of a controlled lab environment and into the field. Electroencephalography (EEG), which has correlates with various environmental factors as well as cognitive and mental health outcomes, has the advantage of both portability and cost-effectiveness for this purpose. However, with numerous field researchers spread across diverse locations, data quality issues and researcher idle time due to insufficient participants can quickly become unmanageable and expensive problems. In programs we have established in India and Tanzania, we demonstrate that with appropriate training, structured teams, and daily automated analysis and feedback on data quality, non-specialists can reliably collect EEG data alongside various sur...

Inhibitory gamma-aminobutyric acid-containing (GABAergic) interneurons may comprise only around 20% of all cortical neurons, but they play important roles in cortical function. Not only do they control and orchestrate the activity of excitatory glutamatergic pyramidal cells of the neocortex, contributing to regulation of the overall activity levels of the brain, but they also mediate the precise processing of information in the different cortical networks.

Paula Clifford, executive director for Americans for Medical Progress (AMP), shares step-by-step advice to craft an elevator pitch. This will enable you to proactively and effectively communicate about your work with animals to various audiences.

Alois Saria is a professor and head of the department of the experimental psychiatry unit at the Medical University of Innsbruck in Austria.