Purkinje cell dopaminergic inputs to astrocytes regulate cerebellar-dependent behavior.

Dopamine has a significant role in motor and cognitive function. The dopaminergic pathways originating from the midbrain have received the most attention; however, the relevance of the cerebellar dopaminergic system is largely undiscovered. Here, we show that the major cerebellar astrocyte type Bergmann glial cells express D1 receptors.

Effective Use of Student-Created Case Studies as Assessment in an Undergraduate Neuroscience Course.

Case studies and student-led learning activities are both effective active learning methods for increasing student engagement, promoting student learning, and improving student performance. Here, we describe combining these instructional methods to use student-created case studies as assessment for an online neurovirology module in a neuroanatomy and physiology course. First, students learned about neurovirology in a flipped classroom format using free, open-access virology resources.

Recovery of Burrowing Behavior After Spinal Cord Injury in the Larval Sea Lamprey.

AbstractFollowing traumatic spinal cord injury, most mammalian species are unable to achieve substantial neuronal regeneration and often experience loss of locomotor function. In contrast, larval sea lampreys () spontaneously recover normal swimming behaviors by 10-12 weeks post-injury, which is supported by robust regeneration of spinal axons. While recovery of swimming behavior is well established, the lamprey's ability to recover more complex behaviors, such as burrowing, is unknown.