Journal of Neurophysiology

Online control of reach accuracy in mice

Have you ever wondered how the brain controls reaching movements, whether mice can perfect a reaching movement and cease making errors, which would resemble a “hot-hand” a phenomenon that has been proposed and discussed in Basketball. What about perfecting reaching movements in the violin? In this podcast Editor-in-Chief Nino Ramirez talks with Dr. Abby Person (University of Colorado), senior author of the study entitled “online control of reach accuracy in mice”. This study uses statistical machine learning and kinematic characterization to identify the canonical features of reaching movements that are conserved in mice and primates. Read the article here: https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.00324.2020 @personal_neuro 

Estimation of self-sustained activity produced by persistent inward currents using firing rate profiles of multiple motor units in humans

In this podcast, new Editor-in-Chief Nino Ramirez talks with Dr. Monica Gorassini (University of Alberta) about her recent article which employed a "new method of estimating synaptic drive to multiple, simultaneously recorded motor units" in order to explore the contribution of persistent inward currents to self-sustained firing across motoneuron size. This article was also featured in August's issue of APSselect!

"Estimation of self-sustained activity produced by persistent inward currents using firing rate profiles of multiple motor units in humans"

Babak Afsharipour, Nagib Manzur, Jennifer Duchcherer, Keith F. Fenrich, Christopher K. Thompson, Francesco Negro, Katharina A. Quinlan, David J. Bennett, and Monica A. Gorassini

Published online June 26, 2020.

DOI: 10.1152/jn.00194.2020.

LRRK2 mutation alters behavioral, synaptic, and nonsynaptic adaptations to acute social stress

How does a common Parkinson's Disease-linked mutation affect stress response? In this podcast, Editor-in-Chief Bill Yates talks with Christopher Guevara, Dr. Bridget Matikainen-Ankney, Dr. Deanna Benson, and Dr. George Huntley (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai) about their Rapid Report article, which explored this question in a mouse model of the LRRK2-G2019S mutation. Listen to learn about evidence of how "G2019S alters the magnitude and direction of behavioral responses to stress that may reflect unique modifications of adaptive plasticity in cells and circuits implicated in psychopathology in humans."

LRRK2 mutation alters behavioral, synaptic, and nonsynaptic adaptations to acute social stress
Christopher A. Guevara,* Bridget A. Matikainen-Ankney,* Nebojsa Kezunovic, Katherine LeClair, Alexander P. Conway, Caroline Menard, Meghan E. Flanigan, Madeline Pfau, Scott J. Russo, Deanna L. Benson,* and George W. Huntley, Published online June 16, 2020.
DOI: 10.1152/jn.00137.2020.

Comparative gain-of-function effects of the KCNMA1-N999S mutation on human BK channel properties

In this podcast, Editor-in-Chief Bill Yates talks with Dr. Andrea Meredith and Dr. Hans Moldenhauer about their article which compares the effects of different mutations (N999S and D434G) which are associated with the recently-identified neurological disorder called KCNMA1-linked channelopathy. This research was also featured in Episode 4 of the Netflix and New York Times documentary series Diagnosis. Listen to learn about BK channels, gain-of-function mutations, and important clinical implications of this research!

Comparative gain-of-function effects of the KCNMA1-N999S mutation on human BK channel properties
Hans J. Moldenhauer, Katia K. Matychak, and Andrea L. Meredith, Published online February 4, 2020.
DOI: 10.1152/jn.00626.2019.

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.