Neuro Topics - Plasticity
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February 8, 2024
The Engert lab found that in zebrafish, previous visual experience had no effect on the emergence of their optomotor response (OMR). Fish raised in the dark (no visual experience) and fish raised under a strobe light (irregular visual experience) both developed this visually-guided behavior normally.
Original article in: Nature Communications >
October 26, 2023
The time of day influences cognition, but the molecular and synaptic mechanisms of this influence are elusive. We show that the circadian clock protein BMAL1 has a rhythm in synapses that is critical for corresponding rhythms in synaptic plasticity. Our findings point to local mechanisms for gating computations in anticipation of the time of day.
Original article in: Science Advances >
February 23, 2023
In order for neurons to be ‘plastic’ and adapt in response to environmental stimuli, they must undergo rapid changes in gene expression. Sometimes these rapid changes can lead to DNA damage. Daniel Gilliam and Elizabeth Pollina of the Greenberg lab describe their discovery of a DNA repair pathway that neurons use to address this challenge.
Original article in: Nature >
November 27, 2019
HMS News article on new research from the lab of Rachel Wilson, first author Yvette Fisher, on virtual reality experiments that reveal how visual cues reorganize direction-sensing 'compass neurons' in fruit flies.
Original article in: Nature >