Search results for " hippocampus."

A Critical Period for Prefrontal Network Configurations Underlying Psychiatric Disorders and Addiction

2020

The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) has been classically defined as the brain region responsible for higher cognitive functions, including the decision-making process. Ample information has been gathered during the last 40 years in an attempt to understand how it works. We now know extensively about the connectivity of this region and its relationship with neuromodulatory ascending projection areas, such as the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) or the ventral tegmental area (VTA). Both areas are well-known regulators of the reward-based decision-making process and hence likely to be involved in processes like evidence integration, impulsivity or addiction biology, but also in helping us to predict…

Modulation of hippocampal neurogenesis by Nano-Pulsed Laser Therapy

Neurogenesis is a physiological process through which new neurons are generated and it occurs throughout life, subverting the old dogma stating to the inability of the adult brain to replace neurons. Specifically, neurogenesis take place thanks to the presence of neuronal stem cells (NSCs) located in the subventricular zone of the lateral ventricle and in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. Data present in the literature demonstrate that neurogenesis in the hippocampus decreases during aging and it is impaired in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, and after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a chronic disease that oc…

A novel arousal-based individual screening reveals susceptibility and resilience to PTSD-like phenotypes in mice

2021

Translational animal models for studying post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are valuable for elucidating the poorly understood neurobiology of this neuropsychiatric disorder. These models should encompass crucial features, including persistence of PTSD-like phenotypes triggered after exposure to a single traumatic event, trauma susceptibility/resilience and predictive validity. Here we propose a novel arousal-based individual screening (AIS) model that recapitulates all these features. The AIS model was designed by coupling the traumatization (24 h restraint) of C57BL/6 J mice with a novel individual screening. This screening consists of z-normalization of post-trauma changes in startle …

Nicotine-induced FGF-2 mRNA in rat brain is preserved during aging

2004

Indirect trophic actions of nicotine on brain during aging are suggested from observations describing nicotine as a cognitive enhancer, increasing vigilance and improving learning and memory, and both in vitro and in vivo models have demonstrated neuroprotective effects of nAChR agonists. Previously, we have reported that an acute intermittent (-)nicotine treatment significantly increases fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) mRNA and protein in several brain regions of rat brain. The present study was designed to analyse if nicotine-induced FGF-2 expression in the rat brain was preserved during aging. Using in situ hybridization and quantitative RNase protection assay the present paper report…

The role of neurosteoids sulphate in a spatial and object recognition learning task

2012

The term “neuroactive steroid” refers to steroids that have rapid modulatory effects on ligand-gated ion channels via non-genomic mechanism. Specifically, neurosteroids can alter neuronal excitability via the cell surface interacting with specific neurotransmitter receptors. The neurosteroid pregnenolone sulphate (PREGS) has been described as negative modulator of GABAA receptor and positive modulator of NMDA receptor, affecting cognition as well as emotionality. The present study was aimed to assess the effects of the acute administration of PREGS (10 mg/Kg, s. c.) on rats cognitive functions using a novel task, the Can test. This task explores, under reinforcement, the spatial/visual cues…

Timoleonte e i centri indigeni della Sicilia centrale. L’apporto dell’evidenza numismatica

2011

The studies that in the 1960s developed the theme of the "revival of the Timoleontian age" in the inland centers of central-southern Sicily were based on the erroneous attribution to the Timoleontian age of the Syracusan coin series with the head of Athena/hippocampus and the head of Athena/ star between two dolphins, which determined the generic chronological lowering of the materials and archaeological structures with which the coins were associated and the consequent assignment of many archaeological evidences to the second half of the fourth century BC. The reinterpretation of the numismatic evidence from the hinterland of Sicily proposed in this study offers new interpretative perspect…

ROLE OF NITRIC OXIDE/cGMP PATHWAY IN CANNABINOID MODULATION OF PAROXYSMAL PHENOMENA

Hippocampal and Amygdalar Volumes Changes in Drug Addicts: A Preliminary Study

2007

Oral comunication for American Society of Neuroradiology 45th Annual Meeting. Chicago, June 9-14 2007

Hsp60 response in experimental and human temporal lobe epilepsy due to hyppocampal sclerosis

2015

Hsp60 is widely distributed in the brain, and its alteration has been involved in different neurological disorders. Epilepsy is considered one of the most common neurological disorders and typically involves the hippocampal formation. Compelling evidence describes a role of mitochondria, oxidative stress and both innate and adaptive immunity during epileptogenesis in temporal lobe epilepsy due to hyppocampal sclerosis (TLE-HS). Here, we investigate the Hsp60 involvement in experimental and human epilepsy. Firstly, expression and distribution of Hsp60 in epileptic hippocampi of a rat model of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), based on the phenomenon of maximal dentate gyrus activation (MDA), usi…

A MINIREVIEW ABOUT SPORTING PRACTICE IN EPILEPTIC CHILDREN

2017

Movement is important for neuropsycho-physical development, ensuring the correct growth and giving many benefits from childhood to adulthood. Motor activity plays a pivotal role in psychological, educational and social terms: sport practice induces harmonious physical development with common important benefits independently from sport type and each sport imposes rules respect that children learns to know and respect step by step improving the social skills and cognitive abilities. Sport has a very important role in the growth of children and adolescents. Sport and physical activity work as a moral laboratory to practice decision-making and problem-solving skills, as well as teamwork and coo…