Alzheimer’s disease is often described in terms of its “hardware” damage: amyloid plaques, tau pathology, neuronal loss, and progressive structural degeneration. But before the brain is visibly damaged, its activity may already be changing. In this study, we asked whether early Alzheimer-like alterations could be detected not only in brain structure, but in brain dynamicsLire la suite « 40 Hz light stimulation restores brain dynamics and memory in an early Alzheimer’s disease mouse model »
Archives de l’étiquette : Romain
The claustrum and synchronized brain states: a small structure with a large-scale role
The claustrum is one of the brain’s most intriguing structures: a thin, deeply located sheet of neurons, densely and reciprocally connected with many cortical areas. Because of this connectivity, it has often been discussed as a possible hub for attention, integration, or even consciousness. In this review, in collaboration with the group of Dr. JesseLire la suite « The claustrum and synchronized brain states: a small structure with a large-scale role »
Cortical cross-frequency coupling alterations as a novel biomarker of ALS?
We have published a new article in collaboration avec Véronique Marchand-Pauvert (Paris), Sabine Liebscher (Munich/Cologne) and Caroline Rouaux (Strasbourg). In this Science Translational Medicine paper we show that the cross-frequency coupling analyses we have used in previous papers can serve as a promising biomarker for Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS is a devastating neurodegenerative disease,Lire la suite « Cortical cross-frequency coupling alterations as a novel biomarker of ALS? »
Hippocampal gamma oscillatory complexity is not noise but reflects behavior and learning
Our FunSy paper on gamma oscillatory complexity in hippocampus is out in Nature Comms! The hippocampus and entorhinal cortex exhibit rich oscillatory patterns critical for cognitive functions. In the hippocampal region CA1, specific gamma-frequency oscillations, timed at different phases of the ongoing theta rhythm, are hypothesized to facilitate the integration of information from varied sources andLire la suite « Hippocampal gamma oscillatory complexity is not noise but reflects behavior and learning »
Brain-state-dependent constraints on claustrocortical communication and function
Our new paper in collaboration with Jesse Jackson (Edmonton) is out ! Neural activity in the claustrum has been associated with a range of vigilance states, yet the activity patterns and efficacy of synaptic communication of identified claustrum neurons have not been thoroughly determined. Here, we show that claustrum neurons projecting to the retrosplenial cortex are most active during synchronized cortical statesLire la suite « Brain-state-dependent constraints on claustrocortical communication and function »
AD before plaques
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative pathology commonly characterized by a progressive and irreversible deterioration of cognitive functions, especially memory. Although the etiology of AD remains unknown, a consensus has emerged on the amyloid hypothesis, which posits that increased production of soluble amyloid b (Ab) peptide induces neuronal network dysfunctions and cognitive deficits. In ourLire la suite « AD before plaques »
Theta-gamma coupling as « Eureka »?
Spatial reference memory in rodents represents a unique opportunity to study brain mechanisms responsible for encoding, storage and retrieval of a memory. Even though its reliance on hippocampal networks has long been established, the precise computations performed by different hippocampal subfields during spatial learning are still not clear. In our Cerebral Cortex paper, to studyLire la suite « Theta-gamma coupling as « Eureka »? »
Hippocampal theta without pacemakers
Hippocampal theta rhythm is crucial for spatial memory and is thought to be generated by extrinsic inputs. In our Nature Neuroscience paper, though, we show that, using a complete rat hippocampus in vitro, several intrinsic, atropine-resistant theta generators can be found directly in CA1. These oscillators were organized along the septotemporal axis and arose independentlyLire la suite « Hippocampal theta without pacemakers »