Search results for "plasticity"

Motor cortical plasticity induced by motor learning through mental practice

2015

Several investigations suggest that actual and mental actions trigger similar neural substrates. Motor learning via physical practice results in long-term potentiation (LTP)-like plasticity processes, namely potentiation of M1 and a temporary occlusion of additional LTP-like plasticity. However, whether this neuroplasticity process contributes to improve motor performance through mental practice remains to be determined. Here, we tested skill learning-dependent changes in primary motor cortex (M1) excitability and plasticity by means of transcranial magnetic stimulation in subjects trained to physically execute or mentally perform a sequence of finger opposition movements. Before and after …

Human brain evolution : how the increase of brain plasticity made us a cultural species

2016

Why are humans so different from other primate species? What makes us so capable of creating language, art and music? The specializations in human brain anatomy that are responsible for our unique behavioral and cognitive traits evolved over a very short period of evolutionary time (between six and eight million years). Recent evidence suggests that, alongside a reorganization of the brain and an increase in its size, neural plasticity may also play a major role in explaining the evolutionary history of our species. Plasticity is the propensity of the brain to be molded by external influences, including the ecological, social and cultural context. The impact of these environmental influence…

Dissecting task-specific plasticity capacity in patients with multiple sclerosis with transcranial magnetic stimulation.

2020

FE·Meshless multiscale modeling of heterogeneous periodic materials

2013

The computational mutiscale modeling of periodic heterogeneous materials, characterized by the assembly of units and joints, represents a compromise between the inaccuracy resulting from the macro modeling approach and the computational effort of the meso modeling. Assuming that the heterogeneities are orders of magnitude smaller than the structure dimensions, according to the multiscale approach, the macroscopic stresses and strains around a certain point can be found by averaging the stresses and the strains in a small representative part of the microstructure or a representative volume element (RVE) attributed to that point. A first-order two-scale scheme has been used to model heterogen…

Advancements on the FE·Meshless CH for the analysis of heterogeneous periodic materials

Over the last few years, the intrinsic role of different spatial scales in the mechanics of materials has been well recognized. Generally, two main different scales can be identified in the heterogeneous materials: the macroscopic level, which coincides with the global structural one, and the mesoscopic level, that is the scale at which the heterogeneities can be identified and where the most relevant nonlinear mechanical phenomena occur. In this framework, substantial progress has been made in the two-scale computational homogenization (CH). This method is essentially based on the on the fly assessment of the macroscopic constitutive behavior from the boundary value problem (BVP) of a stat…

Reduced presynaptic efficiency of excitatory synaptic transmission impairs LTP in the visual cortex of BDNF-heterozygous mice

2006

The neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays an important role in neuronal survival, axonal and dendritic growth and synapse formation. BDNF has also been reported to mediate visual cortex plasticity. Here we studied the cellular mechanisms of BDNF-mediated changes in synaptic plasticity, excitatory synaptic transmission and long-term potentiation (LTP) in the visual cortex of heterozygous BDNF-knockout mice (BDNF(+/-)). Patch-clamp recordings in slices showed an approximately 50% reduction in the frequency of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) compared to wild-type animals, in the absence of changes in mEPSC amplitudes. A presynaptic impairment of excita…

Disruption of Slc4a10 augments neuronal excitability and modulates synaptic short-term plasticity

2015

Slc4a10 is a Na(+)-coupled Cl(-)-HCO3 (-) exchanger, which is expressed in principal and inhibitory neurons as well as in choroid plexus epithelial cells of the brain. Slc4a10 knockout (KO) mice have collapsed brain ventricles and display an increased seizure threshold, while heterozygous deletions in man have been associated with idiopathic epilepsy and other neurological symptoms. To further characterize the role of Slc4a10 for network excitability, we compared input-output relations as well as short and long term changes of evoked field potentials in Slc4a10 KO and wildtype (WT) mice. While responses of CA1 pyramidal neurons to stimulation of Schaffer collaterals were increased in Slc4a1…

Updated overview on interplay between physical exercise, neurotrophins, and cognitive function in humans

2019

Highlights • Physical exercise maintains or improves cognitive functions, and neurotrophin receptor signaling may play an important role. • A positive relationship exists between physical exercise and circulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels. • Less clear evidence has been found for a relationship between physical exercise and other neurotrophin levels, such as nerve growth factor, neurotrophin-3, and neurotrophin-4. • The postexercise variation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor might be associated with improvement of neurocognitive functioning. • Physical exercise may be an inexpensive and safe strategy for boosting brain-derived neurotrophic factor release, thus preserving …

Extracellular Vesicles in neural cell interaction and CNS homeostasis

2021

Abstract Central nervous system (CNS) homeostasis critically depends on the interaction between neurons and glia cells. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) recently emerged as versatile messengers in CNS cell communication. EVs are released by neurons and glia in activity‐dependent manner and address multiple target cells within and outside the nervous system. Here, we summarize the recent advances in understanding the physiological roles of EVs in the nervous system and their ability to deliver signals across the CNS barriers. In addition to the disposal of cellular components via EVs and clearance by phagocytic cells, EVs are involved in plasticity‐associated processes, mediate trophic support a…

Complex regional pain syndrome-significant progress in understanding.

2015

Research into complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) has made significant progress. First, there was the implementation of the official IASP "Budapest" diagnostic criteria. It would be desirable to also define exclusion and outcome criteria that should be reported in studies. The next step was to recognize the complex pathophysiology. After trauma, some inflammation is physiological; in acute CRPS, this inflammation persists for months. There is an abundance of inflammatory and a lack of anti-inflammatory mediators. This proinflammatory network (cytokines and probably also other mediators) sensitizes the peripheral and spinal nociceptive system, it facilitates the release of neuropeptides fr…