A small group of highly metabolically active neurons act as conductors in the symphony that is cortical development. The movements of this symphony are the ‘critical periods’ of plasticity in which our experiences sculpt neural circuits—timed differently for different cortical areas and functions, but building upon each other in a precise sequence. The conductor neurons, known as parvalbumin cells (PV-cells), are a subset of inhibitory GABA interneurons that synchronize the activities of large populations of projection neurons across the cortex and direct the onset and closure of critical periods.
Read moreSurprises in the skeletons of neurons: Super-resolution imaging leads to discovery of regularly spaced actin rings in axons
The skeletons of neurons have long fascinated scientists. Beyond giving these cells their unique shapes and structures, the cytoskeleton plays an active role in many processes that define neurons—from the birth of axons and dendrites to the development of synaptic sites and the dynamics of neurotransmitter release.
Read moreUnlocking Cortical Function in Rett Syndrome: Mouse study identifies vision as potential biomarker for brain function in autism-linked disorder, provides new insight on targeting interventions
A throat culture can tell a doctor if someone has strep throat. A blood test if they have anemia. An X-ray if they have a broken bone. Problems in brain function, by contrast, are much harder to evaluate objectively.
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