Publications by authors named "Zhe Ran S Duan"
Article Synopsis
- - Dysfunction in GABAergic circuits is linked to neurodevelopmental disorders, and this study explores how the gene Gabrb3 impacts brain circuit assembly in relation to conditions like autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Angelman syndrome (AS).
- - The research finds that deleting Gabrb3 in mice leads to fewer inhibitory synapses, increased synchrony in local networks, and greater functional connectivity between certain groups of brain neurons, as well as heightened responses to touch in newborns.
- - Furthermore, analysis of human data reveals that the expression of GABRB3 is associated with unusual brain connectivity patterns observed in individuals with ASD, emphasizing the gene's role in developing sensory processing circuits.
Article Synopsis
- During neonatal development, sensory cortices create spontaneous activity influenced by sensory experience and intrinsic factors, but the exact role of this activity in forming neuronal circuits remains unclear.
- A study using longitudinal calcium imaging in mouse pups reveals that by postnatal day 7, distinct functional assemblies of interneurons and pyramidal cells are present in the somatosensory cortex.
- Reducing GABA release disrupts this functional organization, leading to increased survival of certain interneurons, highlighting the importance of immature MGE-derived interneurons in shaping GABA-driven activity patterns in developing cortical networks.*
The developmental journey of cortical interneurons encounters several activity-dependent milestones. During the early postnatal period in developing mice, GABAergic neurons are transient preferential recipients of thalamic inputs and undergo activity-dependent migration arrest, wiring, and programmed cell-death. Despite their importance for the emergence of sensory experience and the role of activity in their integration into cortical networks, the collective dynamics of GABAergic neurons during that neonatal period remain unknown.
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