Journal of Neurophysiology

The “embreathment” illusion highlights the role of breathing in corporeal awareness

What exactly is corporeal awareness, and how does breathing contribute to this form of self-consciousness? In this podcast, Editor-in-Chief Bill Yates talks with Alessandro Monti, Dr. Giuseppina Porciello, Dr. Gaetano Tieri, and Dr. Salvatore M. Aglioti (Sapienza Università di Roma and IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia) about their Rapid Report article, which combined respiration recordings with immersive virtual reality to explore this question. Listen to learn about the embreathment illusion, which emerged from this unique experimental design.

The “embreathment” illusion highlights the role of breathing in corporeal awareness
Alessandro Monti, Giuseppina Porciello, Gaetano Tieri, and Salvatore M. Aglioti, Published online January 17, 2020.
DOI: 10.1152/jn.00617.2019.

Estradiol rapidly modulates excitatory synapse properties in a sex- and region-specific manner in rat nucleus accumbens core and caudate-putamen

How does estradiol acutely facilitate sex differences in striatum-dependent behaviors? In this podcast, Editor-in-Chief Bill Yates talks with Dr. Amanda Krentzel and Dr. John Meitzen (both from North Carolina State University) about their study which investigated this question in adult rats. Listen to learn about sex differences, medium spiny neurons, glutamatergic signaling, and more.

Also be sure to check out the parallel episode of The Brain That Named Itself podcast, which discusses this study in a way that is acessible to non-scientists: https://brainthatnameditself.com/episode-14-science-interlude

Estradiol rapidly modulates excitatory synapse properties in a sex- and region-specific manner in rat nucleus accumbens core and caudate-putamen
Amanda A. Krentzel, Lily R. Barrett, and John Meitzen
Journal of Neurophysiology, Published online September 13, 2019.
DOI: 10.1152/jn.00264.2019.

Between-hand coupling during response inhibition

The "interference effect" occurs during a bimanual response when one hand is abruptly cued to stop, resulting in a significant delay in the actions of the other hand. But what neural mechanisms underlie this effect? In this podcast, Editor-in-Chief Bill Yates talks with Corey Wadsley, Dr. John Cirillo, and Dr. Winston Byblow (all from the University of Auckland) about their recent article, which investigates whether the interference effect is the consequence of between-hand coupling. Listen to learn about the role of GABA-mediated networks, movement preparation, paradoxical findings and more!

Between-hand coupling during response inhibition
Corey George Wadsley, John Cirillo, and Winston D Byblow
Journal of Neurophysiology, Published online July 24, 2019.
DOI: 10.1152/jn.00310.2019.

Behavioral training of marmosets and electrophysiological recording from the cerebellum

The marmoset is a promising new model for study of neurophysiological basis of behavior in primates. But will researchers ever be able to obtain enough trials per session to improve the practical utility of this model? In this podcast, Editor-in-Chief Bill Yates talks with Ehsan Sedaghat-Nejad, Paul Hage, and Dr. Reza Shadmehr (all from Johns Hopkins University) about their Innovative Methodology article, which introduces new behavioral training and neurophysiological protocols aimed at increasing the number of trials per session while recording from the cerebellum. Listen to learn about training efficacy, targeted multi-channel recording, and more!

Behavioral training of marmosets and electrophysiological recording from the cerebellum
Ehsan Sedaghat-Nejad, David J Herzfeld, Paul Hage, Kaveh Karbasi, Tara Palin, Xiaoqin Wang, and Reza Shadmehr
Journal of Neurophysiology, Published online August 7, 2019.
DOI: 10.1152/jn.00389.2019.

Pairing vagus nerve stimulation with tones drives plasticity across the auditory pathway

Previous studies have reported primary auditory cortex plasticity following vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) paired with a sound. Does this phenomenon extend to other fields in the auditory pathway? In this podcast, Editor-in-Chief Bill Yates talks with Dr. Michael S. Borland and Dr. Crystal Engineer (both from the University of Texas at Dallas) about their recent study, which is the first to to document both cortical and subcortical plasticity following VNS-sound pairing. Listen to learn about auditory plasticity, potential therapies for auditory processing disorders, and more!

Pairing vagus nerve stimulation with tones drives plasticity across the auditory pathway
Michael S. Borland, Will A. Vrana, Nicole A. Moreno, Elizabeth A. Fogarty, Elizabeth P. Buell, Sven Vanneste, Michael P. Kilgard, and Crystal T. Engineer
Journal of Neurophysiology, Published online July 29, 2019.
DOI: 10.1152/jn.00832.2018.

Cannabinoid receptor-mediated modulation of inhibitory inputs to mitral cells in the main olfactory bulb

What is the role of cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB₁) in olfactory processing? In this podcast, Editor-in-Chief Bill Yates talks with Thomas Heinbockel (Howard University) and Alex Straiker (Indiana University, Bloomington) about their recent study in mice, which revealed that CB₁ is involved in the regulation of glomerular activity in the main olfactory bulb (MOB). Listen to learn about the endocannabinoid system, mitral cells, implications for olfactory behavior, and more!

Cannabinoid receptor-mediated modulation of inhibitory inputs to mitral cells in the main olfactory bulb
Ze-Jun Wang, Sherry Shu-Jung Hu, Heather B. Bradshaw, Liqin Sun, Ken Mackie, Alex Straiker, and Thomas Heinbockel
Journal of Neurophysiology, Published online August 13, 2019.
DOI: 10.1152/jn.00100.2018.

Renal sensory nerves and hypertension

What roles do renal sensory nerves play in a renal-nerve dependent mouse model of hypertension? In this podcast, Editor-in-Chief Bill Yates talks with Jason Ong and Sean Stocker (both from the University of Pittsburgh) about their recent study, which explored this question in 2-Kidney 1-Clip (2K1C) mice. Listen to learn about regulation of arterial blood pressure, potential treatments for hypertension, and more!

Renal Sensory Nerves Increase Sympathetic Nerve Activity and Blood Pressurein 2-Kidney 1-Clip Hypertensive Mice
Jason Ong, Brian J. Kinsman, Alan F. Sved, Brittany Marie Rush, Roderick J. Tan, Marcelo D. Carattino, and Sean D. Stocker
Journal of Neurophysiology, Published online May 15, 2019.
DOI: 10.1152/jn.00173.2019.

Somatosensory interactions reveal feature-dependent computations

Our ability to perceive and discriminate textures is based on the processing of high-frequency vibrations generated on the fingertip as it is scanned across a surface. But how do we process tactile information when we simultaneously experience different cues at separate locations on the body? In this podcast, Editor-in-Chief Bill Yates talks with Jeff Yau about his recent study which found that vibrations experienced on one hand always systematically modulated the perception of vibrations on the other hand. Listen to learn about somatosensory interactions, the role of hand position in tactile perception, and more!

Somatosensory interactions reveal feature-dependent computations
Md. Shoaibur Rahman and Jeffrey M Yau
Journal of Neurophysiology, Published online April 10, 2019.
DOI: 10.1152/jn.00168.2019.

Stable memory and computation in randomly rewiring neural networks

Our brains must maintain a representation of the world over a period of time much longer than the typical lifetime of the biological components producing that representation. How does the brain handle this challenge at the synaptic level? In this podcast, Editor-in-Chief Bill Yates talks with Dan Acker about his recent study that tackled this question. Listen to learn about the importance of synaptic strength, modeling memory processes, and applications for machine learning!

Stable memory and computation in randomly rewiring neural networks
Daniel Acker, Suzanne Paradis, and Paul Miller
Journal of Neurophysiology, Published online April 10, 2019.
DOI: 10.1152/jn.00534.2018.

Distinct types of neural reorganization during long-term learning

What are the neural mechanisms of skill acquisition? In this podcast, Editor-in-Chief Bill Yates talks with Xiao Zhou (Carnegie Mellon University) and Steve Chase (Carnegie Mellon University) about their recent study, which leveraged a brain-computer interface learning paradigm to track the neural reorganization occurring throughout the full time course of motor skill learning lasting several weeks. Listen to learn about the distinct types of reorganization, BCI techniques, the relationship between motor error and skill learning, and more!

Distinct types of neural reorganization during long-term learning
Xiao Zhou, Rex N. Tien, Sadhana Ravikumar, and Steven M. Chase
Journal of Neurophysiology, Published online March 29, 2019.
DOI: 10.1152/jn.00466.2018.