Journal of Neurophysiology

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.

Beyond the sleep-amyloid interactions in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis

Numerous studies have linked disrupted sleep and circadian rhythms with amyloid-β (Aβ), a key pathological hallmark in Alzheimer's disease (AD). While previous evidence suggests that Aβ initiates AD pathogenesis, tau, another major hallmark of AD, seems to drive neurodegeneration. Recent studies imply that sleep-wake cycles affect brain tau more significantly than Aβ levels, leading to accelerated AD progression and cognitive decline. In this podcast, Editor-in-Chief Bill Yates talks with Shen Ning (Boston University; Genetics and Aging Research Unit, Mass General and Harvard) and Mehdi Jorfi (Mass General and Harvard) about their NeuroForum article, which discusses the importance of these recent findings.

Beyond the sleep-amyloid interactions in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis
Shen Ning and Mehdi Jorfi
Journal of Neurophysiology, Published online March 13, 2019.
DOI: 10.1152/jn.00118.2019.

A muscle-activity-dependent gain between motor cortex and EMG

How does the motor cortex, with neurons that have a limited activity range, function effectively under the widely varying conditions required during everyday life? In this podcast, Editor-in-Chief Bill Yates talks with Dr. Stephanie Naufel Thacker, Dr. Josh Glaser, and Dr. Lee Miller about their recent study out of Northwestern University, which explored this question using EMG over a range of conditions. This article was also chosen for the January 2019 issue APSselect. Listen to learn about nonlinearity in the motor system, brain-computer interface decoders, EMG methodology, and more!

A muscle-activity-dependent gain between motor cortex and EMG
Stephanie Naufel, Joshua I. Glaser, Konrad P. Kording, Eric J. Perreault, and Lee E. Miller
Journal of Neurophysiology, Published online December 26, 2018.
DOI: 10.1152/jn.00329.2018.

Development of human electrophysiological brain networks

How do complex brain networks develop during adolescence? In this podcast, Editor-in-Chief Bill Yates talks with Dr. Paul Briley and Dr. Peter Liddle (both from the University of Nottingham) about their recent study which employed magnetoencephalography to assess beta frequency oscillations in higher-order cognitive and sensory networks. This article was also chosen for the December 2018 issue APSselect. Listen to learn about the functional connectivity, brain development, MEG methodology, and more!

Development of human electrophysiological brain networks
Paul M. Briley, Elizabeth B. Liddle, Madeleine J. Groom, Helen J. F. Smith, Peter G. Morris, Giles L. Colclough, Matthew J. Brookes, and Peter F. Liddle
Journal of Neurophysiology, Published online December 7, 2018.
DOI: 10.1152/jn.00293.2018.

Highlights from the 28th Annual Meeting of the Society for the Neural Control of Movement

The Journal of Neurophysiology was a sponsor of the 2018 Society for the Neural Control of Movement meeting, which was held May 1-4 in Santa Fe, NM, USA. The journal is also publishing an editorial related to this meeting. In this podcast, Editor-in-Chief Bill Yates talks with two of the authors of this editorial: Raeed Chowdhury (Northwestern University) and Teja Bollu (Cornell University). Listen to learn about some of the big takeaways from NCM 2018!

Highlights from the 28th Annual Meeting of the Society for the Neural Control of Movement
Kevin A. Mazurek, Michael Berger, Tejapratap Bollu, Raeed H. Chowdhury, Naveen Elangovan, Irene A. Kuling, M. Hongchul Sohn
Journal of Neurophysiology, Article in Press.
DOI: 10.1152/jn.00475.2018.