NeuroScoop

Decisions, decisions

2009-12-10T09:37:00.000-08:00

Throughout life, each person's future and ultimately their survival depends upon choices made each day, whether it be accepting that new job offer, continuing to pursue a particular relationship, or deciding what to eat for lunch. In order to choose the best option, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of each possibility and predict whether the outcome might be worth the effort it will cost to obtain it.

As a concrete example, consider a person who is deciding what to eat for lunch. They need to think about the type of food they want to eat, how far away they will need to travel in order to obtain it (can they make it there and back during their lunchtime?), how much money the food will cost, and whether the food will adequately nourish their body. On paper, this type of calculation may require pen and paper, but the brain is able to handle this algorithm quite well. The ultimate reward is to eat a meal that will provide the maximum amount of nutrients and energy for the body but requires a minimal amount of energy to obtain it.

Scientists at the University of Washington in Seattle and the University of Oxford are studying the processes that underlie our brain's analysis of these situations. Each aspect must be taken into account to ensure that the net effect is beneficial for us. These researchers recently reported in Nature Neuroscience that dopamine released from the nucleus accumbens encodes information regarding the value of the reward itself but not the costs associated with obtaining that reward unless the cost is particularly low.

At the heart of reward processing is the mesolimbic dopamine pathway, which lies in the midbrain and contains neurons that release dopamine to the nucleus accumbens. This circuit analyzes how likely it is to receive the reward, how much of that reward is possible to obtain, and how long it will take to receive the reward.

In order to achieve these results, the group studied the quantitative amounts of dopamine released in rats at the nucleus accumbens when the value of a reward or the cost of a reward was changed. To begin, the rats were trained to choose between two options:

1. Pressing a lever 16 times, which is the cost, to receive 1 pellet of food, which is the reward.

-OR-

2. A similar protocol in which the cost was manipulated by increasing to 32 lever presses or decreasing to 2 lever presses OR a similar protocol in which the reward was manipulated by increasing to 4 food pellets or decreasing to no food pellets at all.

A significantly greater amount of dopamine was released when the rat chose 4 food pellets over 1 food pellet; likewise, more dopamine was released when the rat chose 1 food pellet over no food pellets. Thus, the higher levels of dopamine were released when the 'better' of the two possible rewards was chosen.

When the cost of the reward was manipulated, more dopamine was released when the rats chose to press the lever 2 times instead of 16 times. However, there was no difference in the amount of dopamine released when the rat chose 16 lever presses over having to press the lever 32 times. It was concluded, then, that the nucleus accumbens is important for determining the value of the reward but unless the cost is particularly low (if you're getting a real good deal!), evaluating the cost is processed elsewhere.

Focus on UAB neuroscience

2009-11-22T22:31:00.000-08:00

Originally published in the UAB Kaleidoscope on April 28, 2008:

On Wednesday, April 23, the UAB School of Public Health presented the Glenwood Endowed Lecture Series, a joint effort between UAB and Glenwood to heighten awareness of the social concerns faced by people who have autism and also to shed light on recent research efforts being made to understand autism. In addition to the keynote speaker’s presentation on brain-based research of autism, workshops were presented by Birmingham-area clinicians. Glenwood, the Autism and Behavioral Health Center of Alabama, touches the lives of 4,500 children, teens, adults, and families affected by mental health disorders annually.

“The aim of the Glenwood Endowed Lecture is to foster a growing sense of unity among the public, service providers, and researchers around the societal impacts of behavioral health disorders such as autism,” said Dottie Mitchell, Director of Communications and Marketing at Glenwood. “We have received an enthusiastic response to this year’s Glenwood Endowed Lecture keynote speaker, Dr. Nancy Minshew. Response has poured in from educators, researchers, parents, advocates, and individuals who have loved ones affected by autism and others from across Alabama.”

Indeed, these efforts have resulted in a much larger knowledge base, as participation in the workshops has increased almost 5 fold in only three years!

“Our first lecture took place in 2005, and there were about 40 people registered; today, we have approximately 185 people registered,” said Mitchell.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. People who have autism are affected to varying degrees, thus the inclusive terminology “autism spectrum disorder” (ASD) has been coined. There are three main forms of ASD including autism, Asperger syndrome, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified. In many instances, people who have autism avoid eye contact, cannot perceive other’s feelings, and tend to display repetitive behaviors. An important social consideration is to educate the public about this disorder in an effort to help these individuals integrate into society.

“It is important to educate parents, teachers, and others about autism,” said Nancy Minshew, M.D., Director of the NIH Autism Center of Excellence, and professor of psychiatry and neurology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. “These are children who are never invited to birthday parties or called on the telephone. Others need to be taught that teasing and bullying are not acceptable.”

It is just this theme that permeated the workshops. Each was tailored to address the specific needs of people who have autism in successive stages of life. Additionally, the event included updates on scientific advancements and research in autism.

“The advent of functional MRI has helped to make tremendous advances in understanding autism,” said Minshew. “In the past, we could only determine that there was an increase in the brain size of young children who have autism because we were limited by the level of resolution afforded by the imaging technology at that time. Now, we have been able to determine that autism is actually a problem of higher-order neural circuitry; their higher-order circuitry is underdeveloped, but their simpler processing and abilities are intact.”

One UAB student believes that knowledge of the basic science underlying a disorder combined with the social considerations that evolve out of the disorder is important for medical researchers.

“I believe it is very important for a basic science researcher to understand not only the underpinnings of the biological component that causes autism but also the societal impact of the disorder,” said Chris Chapleau, a UAB graduate student. “How are these kids going to be in 5 to 10 years? What impact does this have on a family? I believe that understanding these things makes a more well-rounded researcher who is better able to address the questions and provide answers for various aspects of the disorder.”

Opportunities exist for UAB students to learn more about autism and become involved in raising awareness of the disorder by volunteering at Glenwood.

“There are several ways to get involved at Glenwood,” said Mitchell. “Students can help with one of Glenwood’s fundraisers; assist with the Annual Holiday Pecan Sale; or get a group together and participate in a project on Glenwood’s campus.”

For more information regarding volunteer opportunities, contact Rebecca Rhodes Sibley at 205-795-3267 or rsibley@glenwood.org.

We do what's necessary to survive

2009-11-16T20:38:00.000-08:00

Ever known someone who consistently returned to an abusive partner or spouse regardless of their resolve to end the cycle? Attempting to understand why someone would willingly subject themselves to more violence can indeed be mind-boggling. Scientists at several institutions around the country are finding out, however, that there is a biological explanation for this type of behavior, and it originates from the early years spent with our mom.

Throughout the early stages of life, it’s important that offspring remain close to their mom at all times, since she provides their basic needs for survival - nourishment, shelter, and protection. Separation or withdrawal from her during this time would put their very lives in jeopardy. To ensure this doesn’t happen, infants are born with an inherent preference for their mom, an attraction so strong that even poor treatment from her doesn’t interfere with their desire to be near her.

In their Nature Neuroscience paper published November 2, Gordon A. Barr et al. gave rats an electrical shock while exposing them to a particular odor. This conditioning caused adult rats to avoid all subsequent encounters with the scent since they associated it with getting shocked. The opposite reaction was reported in young rats, however. These pups actually exhibited a preference for the very odor they had been conditioned to avoid. It’s believed that, although they don’t have the ability to identify and avoid potentially harmful stimuli, they reach a stage at some point in development where they learn this strategy.

Further experiments revealed that the steroid corticosterone, also known as the stress hormone, reverses the preference behavior exhibited in the young rats. When corticosterone was injected into young rats prior to the electrical shock and odor exposure, they learned to avoid that odor in the future, which is the same response demonstrated by the adult rats!

At the core of this phenomenon lies dopamine, which is one of the brain’s molecules responsible for transmitting signals between cells. There is less dopamine released from neurons in young pups demonstrating preference behavior than in the young pups who avoided the odor because they were injected with corticosterone beforehand. The quantitative measurements of dopamine were taken from the amygdala, an area of the brain that processes threats and fears. The greater the release of dopamine, the stronger the synapses will be in the amygdala; this solidifies our memory of those stimuli that we’ve learned to avoid.

To further demonstrate the role of dopamine in avoidance behavior, young rats were infused with dopamine prior to conditioning. Those rat pups that would normally exhibit a preference for the odor now demonstrated an aversion for the scent. If a dopamine receptor antagonist were infused, the young rats demonstrated preference behavior. Once again, the elevated levels of dopamine are associated with the ability to learn and remember which stimuli to fear and avoid.

The preference behavior exhibited by young rats described herein has been selected for throughout many years of evolution. Obviously, nature has decided that it is more advantageous for us to prefer our mom and form an attachment to her even in instances of poor treatment or abuse. Our chances of survival are higher if we remain alongside her. After all, at birth and throughout infancy, we are virtually helpless and have no way of setting out to find better conditions and sources of nourishment.

At such a young age, we don’t have the ability to identify and learn which stimuli to fear and avoid. As we grow older and stronger and are thus better able to take care of ourselves, the dependence upon and attachment to mom lessens and we are able to learn which things to fear and avoid. Without mom right by our side to keep corticosterone levels at bay, it’s possible for us to detect stressful situations and learn how to deal with them.

Psychologically speaking, who really benefits from an apology?

2009-11-06T21:49:00.001-08:00

Each day, people around the world experience altercations with others, whether it be a spouse, family member, friend, or even a stranger. In the event of an apology between the parties involved, however, who is the actual benefactor?

Having been the “good” Catholic schoolgirl at one point in my life, it’s understandable that the first answer in my head is easily “the recipient of the apology.” After all, a common mantra drilled into our heads while growing up is that we must say we are sorry when we hurt someone. It’s supposed to make them feel better, right?

Is the act of apologizing, however, something that is really intended to make the wronged person feel better? Or, is it the one delivering the apology that actually benefits, considering that it is their conscious being cleansed through the very act?

It seems to me that, in some cases, a verbal apology could very well be considered a selfish act.

Yes. Selfish.

This concept may be illustrated through the following: a friend of mine who is divorced received an apology from her ex-husband after several years with no contact between the two of them.

Granted, in the conventional way of thinking, the man certainly owed her an apology. He had betrayed her, cheated on her, and abused her.

The question remains, though…did he really take her psychological well being into consideration when approaching her with an “I’m sorry”? Did he even think about the effect this apology may have on her and her life? Did he once again commit a selfish act against her when he failed to think about how the apology would affect her?

If this man truly had her best interest at heart, he would have chosen to stay away.

His apology had the opposite effect that our old childhood mantra would predict…instead of making her feel better, she was tossed right back into the throes of sadness.

When I think about it, my friend exerted so much energy and effort to get through the divorce and all the emotional mazes divorce brings with it. After years of counseling, heartache, and trauma, she made peace with the situation. She was forced to create her own closure on the event, as he had offered nothing in that area. Until the point at which her ex briefly re-entered her life, she was healthy and doing quite well.

Instead of taking the time to consider what stage my friend was at in her life, her ex placed more value upon lifting the burden of guilt off his shoulders.

Approaching someone so many years after an intense emotional altercation to say “I’m sorry” may not have the effect one would think. If the person wronged has moved on in their life, sometimes it may be more respectful to leave them alone instead of causing the other person to dredge up hurtful memories of the past and, once again, deal with them.

In the case of my friend, I believe her ex’s “I’m sorry” was actually beneficial for himself. I mean, his conscience is cleared. He can now move on without showing any regard for the wake left behind him.

Do scientists use social media?

2009-11-03T13:00:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, the Postdoctoral Association at UAB hosted a seminar entitled, "Social Media for Scientists: How Facebook and LinkedIn can bolster your career". The talk, presented by Wade Kwon and David Sher - both experts in this area, was informative and convincingly made the point that social media is here to stay. We're at an advantage if we make use of these tools now.

What surprised me was the small percentage of those in attendance that actually use social media networks such as Facebook, Twitter, etc. Most of the audience have never used these networks and, if so, rarely update their accounts. It made me wonder why scientists might shy away from these simplistic forms of communication.

The stereotypical phenotype of a scientist is an anti-social individual wearing a white coat who prefers to work isolated in a laboratory, mixing flasks of bubbling solutions that are oh-so-beautifully colored. But does this image really hold up today?

Sciencey Movies

2009-10-28T10:46:00.000-07:00

I admit it ... I love movies. This is one of the reasons I was so excited about Chicago's 45th International Film Festival taking place at the same time as the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) conference. Of course, SfN being SfN with all of it's bustling and busyness, I never had a chance to go :(

For me, it can't be just any movie. I'm not a big fan of special effects and everybody/everything blowing to pieces before the film is over. And they can keep the girl-gets-guy/guy-gets-girl 'romantic comedies' ... no matter how hard Hollywood tries to approach reality in this genre of film, the star *always* gets their love interest (or some other, better lover that they didn't notice until later) by the end ... not exactly reality.

Yesterday, however, I was reading a blog post by Sabbi Lall from Nature magazine, and learned about the Imagine Science Film Festival recently held in New York City. These are my kind of movies! I just wish this festival would travel south for the winter :)

Below are just a few of the films that grabbed my attention ...

One of the films screened at the festival, entitled "In Search of Memory", documents the life of Eric Kandel, who is one of the most influential people in the field of neuroscience. And as an added bonus, Kandel was present for a question and answer session following the screening.

Animated Minds offers a glimpse into the lives of people who suffer from mental illness. An example of four different disorders are portrayed: obsessive-compulsive disorder, manic depression, anxiety, and psychosis. A particularly interesting story is told through the person who has obsessive-compulsive disorder. This man believed that each time he thought about Saddam Hussein, he was contributing to the Gulf War. It reached a point where, if he thought about Hussein while partaking in daily activities such as talking, eating, and walking, he had to go back and repeat the task.

Dreams of a Scientist is one of a series of animated shorts about the dreams that scientists have at night. A quick Google search will bring up clips of the film.

PCR Rap, by The Science Rapper, tells the story of the polymerase chain reaction from both the scientific and historical point of view. It promises to make you feel like it's your first time to replicate DNA!

Gulf War Illness

2009-10-25T22:10:00.000-07:00

One morning at SfN, a friend and I were looking over the day's schedule deciding which posters we were going to see. We glanced by one abstract containing the words 'Gulf War Syndrome' and 'mouse'. We were a bit amused at first, trying to figure out exactly how one goes about making a mouse line that has Gulf War Syndrome. Does Harlan raise them in a war zone?

Of course that's not the case. Instead, rats or mice are exposed to various chemicals that were potentially used in the Persian Gulf War in the early 1990s. These include pesticides and nerve gases, many of which are acetylcholinesterase inhibitors that prevent the break-down of excess acetylcholine at synapses in the CNS and PNS.

Gulf War Illness affects many soldiers who served in Operation Desert Storm and/or Desert Shield; some reports estimate this number to be as high as 25% to 30% of veterans! Symptoms of Gulf War Illness presented slowly and, in some cases, took almost two years. Another confounding factor is the seemingly random set of symptoms, which include depression, bronchitis, stomach upset, chronic fatigue, memory problems, and musculoskeletal issues.

Effort is now being put forth by the US Department of Veterans Affairs to study this illness, and several of these research studies were presented at SfN.

Many veterans report problems related to memory recall. Because the hippocampus plays a major role in learning and memory, one study conducted by HE Speed et al. from UT Southwestern investigates the effect of chlorpyrifos, a common insecticide used during the Gulf War, on this brain structure. They found that chlorpyrifos exerts a biphasic effect on synaptic transmission. Closely following initial exposure, mice actually showed an enhancement in synaptic transmission and a small increase in learning and memory. However, the later phase was characterized by a 50% decrease in synaptic transmission, which indicates a loss in synaptic efficacy, in the number of synapses, and/or in the number of neurons. It's interesting to note that this later effect was detected three months after exposure to chlorpyrifos, consistent with the delayed onset of symptoms associated with Gulf War Illness.

Another study by VK Parihar et al. once again looked at the hippocampus and the effect of chemicals and stress on neurogenesis within this brain structure. The group found that rats exposed to pesticides and stress experienced a significant reduction in hippocampal neurogenesis, which may underlie some of the memory and mood disruptions reported by veterans of the first Gulf War.

Finally, P Ferchimin et al. are investigating the possibility that a compound found in the leaves and flowers of tobacco plants (4R) can impart neuroprotection following exposure to insecticides or nerve toxins. Tested on acute hippocampal slices, the researchers found that treatment with 4R 30 minutes after exposure to a toxin prevented any loss of neurons. If 4R was applied 1 hour after exposure, only 30% of the neuronal population was lost. Neuron survival was determined via electrophysiological recordings of a 'pop spike', which is an extracellular measurement of neurotransmitter release from a population of neurons.

SfN ... coming soon to a location near you

2009-10-23T14:35:00.000-07:00

Word on the street is that Chicago is going to be added to the rotation list of cities hosting SfN. Also, SfN will return to New Orleans in 2012. What are your thoughts? Which is your preferred SfN city?

Me? San Diego. But, then again, I'm very partial to San Diego!

Like Google, but for neuroscientists!

2009-10-21T10:32:00.000-07:00

A new search tool has been designed by researchers at the University of California, San Diego that promises to revolutionize internet searches for neuroscientists! It's called the Neuroscience Information Framework and, if you're at SfN right now, you can get a demonstration of it at booth #2103. More info coming soon!

Are your feet hurting at SfN?

2009-10-20T10:11:00.003-07:00

After walking around a large conference center like McCormick Place all day, many people end up with feet that decide they just can't go on. And when the feet hurt, it takes its toll on the whole body.

This year, however, was the first time I've seen a massage area at SfN. The group didn't set up in some obscure place, either. Instead, they strategically placed themselves in the heart of the poster sessions, around aisle E. Mi Bon Spa McCormick offers massage services and manicures for SfN attendees. Choose from the Windy City Foot Massage, Chicago Classic Neck and Back, Millennium Head and Shoulder, or the Michigan Avenue Hand and Arm massage.

Right now, you can go by their space and pick up a coupon for a free calf massage with the purchase of a foot massage, which is a $40 value. The group says they are very busy in the afternoons but their services are available all day.

I started wondering how foot massage or reflexology can affect the brain. It seems that a group in Hong Kong has studied the benefits of reflexology and found an advantage conferred on the visual system. I'd like to delve deeper into this research, so stay tuned for more information!

Barres lecture at SfN

2009-10-20T10:08:00.002-07:00

Tuesday morning at the SfN meeting, I was casually walking out of the restroom in Hall B1 when I happened to glance over at the powerpoint slide projected onto one of the big screens. When I saw the word "transsexual", my curiosity was piqued so I sat down to listen.

I also pulled out my SfN program to see the title of the talk, which turned out to be "How Do Astrocytes Promote CNS Synaptogenesis?"

The presenter was Ben Barres from Stanford University and around 30 minutes into his talk was a discussion about scientists embracing diversity and his opinion on ethical/moral considerations associated with this. He also added that he is transsexual and mentioned his own experience within the scientific community. The audience applauded and the next slide was scientific data related to the title of his talk.

I'm curious to know how Barres segwayed into this moral lesson in the middle of a scientific presentation. Was anyone else in attendance at his talk and, if so, could you fill me in?

For the love of ... pizza

2009-10-19T21:09:00.000-07:00

OK, so I *love* Giordano's stuffed pizza! In fact, I've eaten dinner at their N Rush St location two nights in a row now. Both times, I've had it with Canadian bacon and bell peppers ... YUM!

Also, both times there was a very long wait to get a table. But really, it's worth it! This is good stuff!

For more information about Giordano's see my previous post here.

Whole Brain Catalog

2009-10-19T21:08:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I stopped by booth #2106 to see a demonstration of the Whole Brain Catalog, a *free* 3D map of the mouse brain that you can download on your computer. It was quite impressive ... right there on the TV screen, it was possible to slice into this virtual brain and magnify, for example, the hippocampus and view the CA1 neurons, complete with cell bodies and dendrites. Magnify further, and there was a mitochondria and other organelles. All of this interactive and in living color.

This tool allows scientists around the world to upload their own data and then compiles everything into one 3D map that you can view. The project is funded by the Waitt Family Foundation in La Jolla, CA and researchers at the University of California in San Diego (UCSD) designed and developed the map. The group unveiled the project at this year's SfN conference.

Shuttle bus fail

2009-10-19T20:53:00.001-07:00

While walking back to our hotel tonight, a friend of mine thought she saw a fire truck sitting outside the building. As we got closer, we realized that one of the SfN shuttle buses (Shuttle Bus 'G') had given out and couldn't go on. The poor bus had made one too many trips to the McCormick Place.

So, it was Joe's Shuttle Bus Towing to the rescue!

A bit of southern hospitality way up north

2009-10-19T20:22:00.000-07:00

Admittedly, I am a *huge* college football fan ... and it's SEC football all the way! Imagine my surprise then when I went with friends to the Houndstooth Saloon, a bar in the Chicago North Side where the people are crazy for Alabama football.

The inside of the bar is painted crimson ... even the ceiling is painted this color. The fans don tons of Alabama paraphernalia and pack into this place like sardines. Saturday night, we crowded into this place and watched the Alabama-South Carolina game. It was kind of like a deja vu; for a minute I thought I was back in AL. Good times!

Locations of neurotransmitter regulation

2009-10-19T09:44:00.000-07:00

Being a fellow scientist interested in TRP (transient receptor potential) channels, I attended the talk, "Postsynaptic modulation of excitatory transmission via TRPV1 channels at a CNS synapse," presented by AE Chavez in the lab of Pablo Castillo.

I was delighted to hear such a well-rounded, complete talk. TRP channels comprise a huge family of membrane localized ion channels that are involved in numerous processes such as sensory processing (touch, taste, etc.), fear behavior, and sperm mobility. This talk in particular focused upon TRPV1 channels, which are non-selective channels activated by capsaicin and other lipophilic modulators. You may have thought about capsaicin the last time you ate a hot pepper.

Based upon previous data that demonstrated capsaicin's ability to increase mEPSC frequency in dorsal horn neurons of the PNS, the group wanted to further investigate whether capsaicin could have an effect in the CNS, specifically in the dentate gyrus.

Indeed, application of capsaicin caused a decrease in excitatory transmission. However, it's the location of this regulatory process that was so surprising.

Generally, TRPV1 channels are expressed presynaptically in the PNS; however, in the CNS, TRPV1 channels can be expressed postsynaptically. Analysis of mEPSC data demonstrated that capsaicin's effect on neurotransmission was occurring postsynaptically and, at that, was depressing AMPA currents but not NMDA currents. Loading the postsynaptic neuron with BAPTA showed that capsaicin's depressive effects are dependent upon Ca2+

They eventually found that this postsynaptic mechanism involved AMPA receptor internalization in a manner that is dependent upon Ca2+ and dynamin. Additionally, TRPV1 channels were implicated in a postsynaptic form of LTD. If TRPV1 channels are blocked, LTP is facilitated.

Postsynaptic regulation of neurotransmitter release always amazes me. It's reassuring to see such a good example of mutual dependency in the presynaptic-postsynaptic relationship. In addition to receptor internalization or delivery, sometimes it's a retrograde signaling molecule that lies at the heart of neurotransmitter control; for example, 12(S)HPETE at a particular CA3 neuron-interneuron synapse. Nitric oxide is another probable retrograde signal.

Did the economy affect SfN at all?

2009-10-19T09:14:00.000-07:00

I’m a bit curious at whether or not the current (lousy) state of the economy has affected SfN in any way. With a reported 29,500 people at this year's conference, it seems that attendance hasn't been affected so much.

I've been told by several job-seeking attendees that opportunities are quite slim this year. Most are contracted and there are hardly any permanent positions.

Could the (lousy) wifi situation be a probable consequence of the economy? Not enough money to buy enough cables and such?

How about you? Has anyone else noticed anything different about SfN that could have been caused by the recession? How are the quality of 'freebies' in the vendors section? I'm hoping to investigate this topic more and I'd love to hear your take on the situation.

Do your holiday shopping at SfN!

2009-10-19T06:50:00.000-07:00

Word has it that there is a poster at SfN submitted by "Backyard Brains" that describes a product they've designed which allows laypeople to experience the world of electrophysiology using common household pests like cockroaches and crickets. The kit comes complete with neural probes, an amplifier, and a built-in speaker so you can actually hear the neuronal spikes. Connect it to your iPhone and you have a one of a kind, do it yourself lab right in your garage!

These kits make good Christmas presents for those relatives who are constantly asking exactly what it is you do all day. Spend some quality time with your loved ones and let them get to know you better with these brain-recording kits. It's fun for the whole family!

Next up might be a do-it-yourself R01 kit from NIH ... one can always hope.

Cell adhesion proteins: a potential cause of certain autism phenotypes?

2009-10-18T21:39:00.000-07:00

To me, one of the most interesting areas of research right now is deciphering the molecular mechanisms that underlie autism spectrum disorders. I attended the Thomas Sudhof lecture entitled, "From Synapses to Autism: Neurexins, Neuroligins, and More" on Sunday, October 18 at 1pm in Hall B1.

Take home message: Neurexins and neuroligins are transsynaptic cell adhesion molecules that play a role in defining synaptic properties. Mutations in these proteins may account for some autism phenotypes.

Sudhof presented an intriguing study that asks whether mutations in two key cell adhesion proteins, the neuroligins and the neurexins, may alter synapse function and thereby play a role in autism spectrum disorders.

The neurexins and the neuroligins, which lie at the presynapse and the postsynapse respectively, bind to each other thus bridging the synapse. Neurexin interacts with CASK, a protein important for defining structural aspects of the nerve terminal, and a host of other proteins to create a scaffolding complex at that site. Neuroligins on the other hand, bind PSD-95 at the postsynaptic cleft, creating its own scaffolding complex.

It has been shown that neuroligins play a role in the formation of synapses and are important determinants of presynaptic differentiation.

Based upon mutations in neuroligin seen in patients who present with an autism spectrum disorder, Sudhof's group chose to knock-in a R451C mutation into neuroligin-3; a knock-out animal model of neuroligin 3 did not did not have any major effect on phenotype.

The group found that the knock-in mice had impaired social interactions. This was assessed via the animal's interaction with an inanimate object versus a social object (such as another mouse). They also found that these animals exhibited an enhancement in spatial learning, a behavorial aspect studied with the Morris water maze.

Electrophysiological data demonstrated that knocking in this mutation to neuroligin-3 led to an increase in inhibitory mini (mIPSCs) frequency in somatosensory cortex. This is a finding that may correspond to the impaired social interaction phenotype, as people who have autism exhibit inappropriate reactions to social stimuli. Perhaps there is not enough activity taking place in this area. The researchers also unexpectedly found that excitatory neurotransmission (EPSCs) in the hippocampus are increased, potentially causing the displayed enhancement in learning and memory tasks.

In the future, Sudhof and a team of other scientists hope to expand their search for other candidate genes that are important in the autism spectrum disorders using gene arrays.

It's interesting to note that the study of neurexins and neuroligins began with use of alpha-latrotoxin from the black widow spider. It was found that this toxin binds to neurexin, causing an increase in neurotransmitter release. Curious as to the identity of neurexin's endogenous ligand, further experiments yielded to that being neuroligin.

More Chicago food tidbits ... in case you're hungry (and poor)

2009-10-18T20:32:00.000-07:00

If you're low on funds but hungry for some good food, there's a great place in the SfN hotel district called Pompei Pizza that you have to try out. My friend Haley Speed, a post doc at UT Southwestern, had the baked minestrone, which she said was very filling. It has a tomato base with celery, carrots, and lots of basil. The noodles were small penne that she described as being "the size of a 4cm long capillary tube cut into about 8 sections." There are 2-3 slices of French baguette placed on top that's covered by a thick layer of mozzarella cheese. All of this is baked in a pizza oven and served piping hot and fresh.

With a large drink, the total comes to $6.95! And Haley says, "it's pure deliciousness!"

In addition, Pompei offers a great country Italian atmosphere with swing music from the Golden Age (like Frank Sinatra!). They have sample dishes lined up at counter so you can see what you'll be getting. There's also great pizza and pasta and a full dessert menu. Haley says it's a nice, hip, jiving place.

There are several locations but the one (now) frequented by Haley is at:

212 East Ohio

Chicago, Il 60611

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Venus and Mars revisited

2009-10-18T09:09:00.000-07:00

Not being a fan of sensationalism, I was very intrigued when I read the first sentence of an abstract describing the Special Lecture, "Biological origins of sex differences in brain function and disease" in the SfN handbook.

"Each of us has a sex ..."

Yes, plain and simple. I like it. I was impressed, so went to see it on Sunday, October 18 at 11:30am in Hall B1. The speaker was AP Arnold from UCLA.

Take home message: Sex differences are not just hormonal. XX and XY cells are intrinsically different. We need to understand the interaction of various sex specific signals, not just hormonal signals.

We know that the sex differences between females and males originate primarily from the presence of 2 X chromosomes versus 1 X chromosome and 1 Y chromosome. These genotypes bring about different gonadal secretions that then act upon other tissue (including the brain). However, there are also genes located on the X and Y chromosomes that contribute cell-autonomous differences in the sexes as well. So what kind of phenotypic differences are brought about simply by the fact that every cell in my body contains 2 X chromosomes? Certain areas of research are currently devoted to identifying these genes.

In terms of the brain, there are numerous diseases that are more prevalent in one sex over the other. Here's just a few:

Occur more in females:

Multiple sclerosis
Depression
Neural tube defects
Systemic lupus erythematosus (and XX die faster than males who have SLE)

Occur more in males:

Tourette's
ADHD
Parkinson's disease

Original doctrine stated that the female phenotype is the default. Arnold proposes that this dogma should be changed. If testosterone was added to a system, then the brain became more masculine. For example, cross section views of the spinal cord show a pretty dense region of nerves that control the penis in the male and there are much fewer of these in the female. Males deprived of testosterone, however, had a spinal cord that looked more feminine and females supplemented with testosterone had the dense region of penis innervating fibers that are more indicative of a male. This is a permanent differentiating effect of testosterone.

Arnold's work has investigated genotypes and phenotypes of zebra finches...

Male zebra finches have a large orange patch located on each cheek and zebra stripes decorating the neck and chest. He sings a characteristic song, which is intended to woo a female zebra finch so that they will build a nest and reproduce. The group made a bird that was half male, half female ... laterally. Look at one profile, there were zebra stripes and a bright orange patch; look at the bird from the other profile, and it looked just like the more un-colorful female (when I was a kid, my mom always told me the female bird had to do all the work, so she couldn't look as good as the male bird ... LOL!). They postulate that this lateral difference was not likely caused by hormones; instead it was probably caused by the genetic sex of the tissue.

The "e-male" had been created ... the genetic male had a masculine brain with male behavior but had an ovary. There were no signs of a testicle. Thus, sometimes sexual traits in the brain correlate with the genetic sex, not necessarily with the sex of the gonads.

It's true, XX and XY cells certainly have a different genome. Even though they only comprise less than 5% of the genetic material in each cell, these genetic differences cause changes in phenotype. Essentially, females overexpress the genes located on the X chromosome; they get a double does of these compared to males. Furthermore, the parental imprint of X chromosome is different ... males only get theirs from the maternal contribution.

In terms of somatic nociception, XX and XY gene differences caused a change in the reaction mice had to being placed on a hot plate. As the hot plate warms, mice will lick their paws; this action can be counted and analyzed. Males had more paw licks than females; this is not believed to be caused by gonadal hormones.

This was my first experience with the idea that it's not just the hormones that cause sex differences. I hadn't thought about it that way before, but it seems that the idea of differential genes on X and Y chromosomes is plausible in order to also contribute to female-male differences.

Gripe Gripe Gripe

2009-10-17T16:07:00.000-07:00

Every year, it comes. Sometimes it’s in October, sometimes November. It comes every year, right on time … and, yet, each year I’m always amazed at just how these conference centers are so unprepared for us.

My first issue came around noon today when, hungry for a small snack and a drink, I decided to find something to eat in the food court (just the words ‘food court’ impart a sense of convenience). After standing in the cashier’s line for about 20 minutes waiting to pay, I was in shock when she told me it would be $26 for a cookie, a small fountain soda, and a bottle of water. Realizing this was totally incorrect, she recalculated the ‘correct’ price, which was just short of $11! I guess she saved me a heart attack by coming up with the $26 price first. And, by the way, the cookie was not big nor was it good!

Next, I walked by the Starbucks just opposite the ‘poster/vendor’ room a little before 3pm and thought there must have been some sort of accident. After all, the pull-down chain door was about ¾ of the way down! Maybe a hot coffee spill? Perhaps the weather is bad outside and the next shift couldn’t make it? I walked over to the Information booth to inquire and was told that Starbucks closes at 3pm (3pm … seriously?). My first reaction was to ask, “Every day?” Fortunately, the woman behind the Information counter feigned more shock than I had, so I didn’t feel like I was completely overreacting.

So the woman began to suggest other options. Apparently, there is a coffee ‘cart’ located down the hallway (I never found it). Also, just two simple escalator rides downstairs from the Information booth is a McDonald’s Express and a pizza place that was so unimpressive, I can’t remember the name. She: “Oh, and then there’s always the food court”. Me (to myself): “No way, unh-huh I’m not going back there”.

You may have guessed that I picked the pizza place. I wasn’t quite so in the mood for coffee anymore and had become hungry. McDonald’s had a huge line and the pizza place didn’t (go figure that), so I went there. There were only 4 people in front of me, but it took so long for the merchant to process credit card payments (come on, how many of us actually pay in cash? Be prepared, people!) that the pizza slice I’d been given was about room temperature by the time I finally got to eat it.

Oh and I haven’t even touched the wifi issue yet. Where are the normal, everyday electrical outlets? I needed to charge my laptop battery (since I am blogging and all), but have had a very tough time finding the regular two-prong outlets. I finally found one, but the wifi connection was so slow that the battery charging took awhile. I might have one small bar of connection, maybe two. Then, at one point, I received a message that ‘too many people were logged on. Try again.’ UGH!

Even as I sit here writing this post, I’m doing it in Word so I can copy and paste whenever I find a somewhat-decent wireless connection.

I’m complaining about the McCormick Place as if we live in an SfN-centric world. The truth is, however, that conferences take place here all the time. So for all those people, their Starbucks closes at 3pm all the time. Credit card processing is slow all the time. Are there any efforts to improve?

Anyone else have gripes about the location???

Theme B poster summary for Saturday

2009-10-17T12:37:00.000-07:00

SfN Neurobloggers are focusing on 8 different themes. NeuroScoop will focus on Theme B: Neural Excitability, Synapses, and Glia: Cellular Mechanisms

For Saturday, Oct 17, posters in Theme B will highlight ...

Regulation and function of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors
Serotonin Receptors
Physiological aspects of voltage-dependent calcium channels
Synaptic integration
Presynaptic Mechanisms of long term potentiation (LTP)
Long term depression (LTD)
Spike-Timing Dependent Synaptic Plasticity
Neuronal Oscillations: Intrinsic Mechanisms

Hungry for Chinese food?

2009-10-16T21:39:00.001-07:00

For some of the best Chinese food in town, try the Phoenix Restaurant in Chicago's Chinatown district where they serve Dim Sum every day. I hear it is fantastic! Anyone else tried it?

Saturday and Sunday: 8AM - 3PM
Monday - Friday: 9AM - 3PM

The Phoenix Restaurant is located at 2131 S Archer Ave and is near the McCormick Center (The McCormick Center is the red placemarker in the map below).

View The Phoenix Restaurant in a larger map

Still Hungry?

2009-10-16T20:13:00.000-07:00

The next in a long line of posts describing the best places to eat in Chicago will introduce you to the deep dish pizza. Chicago is famous for its stuffed pizza and Giordano's is a great place to sample it!

Dibs Almonte, a UAB grad student had a deep dish pizza with sausage, pepperoni, and Canadian bacon. He understands now why NBC's Today Show called Giordano's the "best pizza in America".

There are two convenient locations in the Chicago-SfN area:

730 N Rush St
130 E Randolph Dr

For best results, click "view larger map" below.

View Giordano's locations in a larger map

Do you um ... er, Twitter?

2009-10-16T14:54:00.001-07:00

If so, then join us for a Tweet-up at Lasalle Power Company this Sunday, October 18 at 7pm! We'll be in the red room, first door on your left after you enter. Reservations have already been made and there will be drink specials.

View Larger Map

Click "View Larger Map" for walking directions from the McCormick Center to Lasalle Power Company.

So who's coming??? Send me your info and I'll add you to this list:
@brainscientist2
@auroraawakes
@EricTBrown
@carlwonders
@aechase
@mpascoe

@M_ostlyHarmless

@genetrapper

@lauramariani

A Thirst With A View

2009-10-16T12:35:00.001-07:00

One of several 'not-to-miss' hot spots in Chicago is ROOF, which (you guessed it) is located on the rooftop of the Wit hotel. A quick ride in their express elevator will transport you to the 27th floor where a breathtaking view of the Chicago skyline awaits. Sit inside and enjoy exquisite decor or roam outside and get an up-close view of the stars with their telescope. And no worries about the temperature; a fireplace will keep you warm inside and fire pits will keep you nice and toasty outside (until the alcohol takes over, that is!).

ROOF offers seasonal menus, and currently a few of their fall-themed drinks are:

Blood orange sidecar
Great pumpkin martini
Spiced pears & honey martini

In addition, they carry a wide variety of beer and wine and a host of gourmet cocktails!

Happy Halloween! Chicago style, that is.

2009-10-16T10:55:00.003-07:00

'Tis the season for ghosts, goblins, and gremlins! What better way to celebrate than with a haunted tour of Chicago! That's right, Absolutely Chicago Segway Tours offers guided Halloween tours twice a day at 6:30pm and 8:45pm.

In addition to haunted houses and hotels, you'll visit such sites as the Iroquois Theatre disaster, where almost 600 people died in a jam-packed, multi-million dollar theater (see photo on right) following a fire that swept through it in 1903; Death Alley, located just behind where the theater once stood ... rumor has it that this area was haunted then and is still haunted by ghosts and spirits today ... needless to say, it remains largely uninhabited; Fort Dearborn, an area that was ordered to be evacuated during the War of 1812 only to have the evacuees ambushed by 500 Potawatomi Indians; and the Morgue on State.

And a visit to Chicago just wouldn't be complete without reliving the history of Al Capon, that famous American gangster from the 1920s. The segway tour visits the past home of his haunted yacht.

I'm checking out this tour tonight and can't wait!

If you're a big fan of Halloween or local haunts, Absolutely Chicago Segway Tours also offers guided tours of the Museum Campus, Art & Architecture tours, and a Fireworks Tour. Bi-lingual tours are available.

Tours meet up at 337 E Randolph St, which is located very close to the SfN hotel district.

View Larger Map

Hungry?

2009-10-16T10:55:00.001-07:00

Whether you're looking for a fine culinary experience or you're just freakin' starving after walking around the McCormick Center all day, you want food and you need it now! Here's just a peek at the 411 on places to eat ...

Al's Beef claims to be Chicago's #1 Italian beef since 1938. According to Dibs Almonte & Brandon Walters, both neurobiology grad students at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, this is one restaurant that is definitely true to its word.

It's Al's Italian beef sandwich that garners all the attention here. Thinly sliced, oven-roasted beef that's seasoned just right is served on fresh Italian bread. At around $10 for the regular (6") Al, french fries, and a drink, this is one Chicago taste experience that's perfect for those of us on a budget. And according to Dibs, his sandwich was "messy but damn tasty!"

Al's Beef is conveniently located at 169 W Ontario St. in the heart of the SfN sponsored hotel district.

View Larger Map

Movie lovers UNITE!

2009-10-16T10:42:00.000-07:00

If you love movies, then you're in for a real treat ... during the month of October, The Chicago International Film Festival is taking place within a couple of blocks of the SfN sponsored hotels and the Navy Pier. All movies will be shown at the following location:

AMC River East 21
322 E. Illinois St.
Chicago, IL 60610

View Larger Map

For a list of movies and their descriptions, visit this pdf link or this interactive site.

Now in its 45th year, the Chicago International Film Festival was the first to screen the likes of Slumdog Millionaire and Reservoir Dogs.

Baby, It's Cold Outside ...

2009-10-15T15:38:00.001-07:00

According to The Weather Channel, here's what you can expect ...

Friday, Oct 16: Few Showers, High 46F Low 39F

Saturday, Oct 17: Few Showers, High 48F Low 35F

Sunday, Oct 18: Sunny, High 53F Low 40F

Monday, Oct 19: Partly Cloudy, High 54F Low 47F

Tuesday, Oct 20: Mostly Cloudy, High 56F Low 49F

Wednesday, Oct 21: Showers, High 56F Low 46F

This data was generated using the zip code "60611" for the McCormick Center area.

Breaking the magician's code?

2009-10-15T12:57:00.000-07:00

For as long as I can remember, I've always enjoyed a good magic trick whether it was simply someone finding a coin behind my ear (a feat that, in this economy, would make me more excited than I was at age 5) or something more David Copperfield-esque like making the Statue of Liberty disappear. My first reaction was always, "Wow, how did you do that?" to which I often heard the frustrating reply, "I can't tell you; otherwise, I would be breaking the magician's oath."

OK, so I understand that if everybody knew how to do it, magic tricks would lose their value and spice.

However, this Saturday, October 17 in Hall B1 at McCormick Place from 11am to 1pm, these tricks will be demystified at "Magic, the Brain, and the Mind" when Apollo Robbins and Eric Mead discuss how our attention, memory, and perception influences the way we "see" illusions. There's even the promise of demonstrations! If my flight to Chicago is on time, you can bet I'll be in the front row (taking notes!).

For more information behind illusion and magic, read over this informative Scientific American article.

Welcome!

2009-10-09T13:57:00.000-07:00

Welcome to NeuroScoop, your official guide to the 2009 Society for Neuroscience conference in Chicago! Rely on NeuroScoop for all the latest happenings in the world of the brain and beyond.

The annual Society for Neuroscience (SfN) conference is one of the largest scientific meetings in the world, averaging more than 30,000 attendees each year. Not surprisingly, given the sheer number of people and the enormous breadth of topics presented during this five-day brain bash, it's easy to get lost in the crowd.

Over the course of the meeting, I plan to highlight interesting data and convey it clearly so that neuroscientists across the board can grasp the take home messages and, hopefully, utilize the information for future interdisciplinary collaborations, something I believe is imperative for advancement of the field as a whole.

In addition, NeuroScoop will inform you of all things Chicago! Don't be blown away by all there is to do in the Windy City; NeuroScoop promises to keep you up-to-date on the best places to eat, sleep, and visit.

So whether you have Chicago on the brain or the amygdala on the brain, NeuroScoop will prove to be an indispensible navigational tool!