Molecular correlates of cortical network modulation by long-term sensory experience in the adult rat barrel cortex

Vallès, Astrid; Granic, Ivica; Weerd, Peter De; Martens, Gerard J.M.

doi:10.1101/lm.034827.114

“…If an enriched environment modulates gene expression in an activitydependent manner, one might predict that longer EEE would result in sustained transcript up-or downregulation lasting until the network has accommodated to the enhanced sensory input. This was confirmed in a follow-up study in which rats were subjected to EEE for 28 days, after which only 29 genes were found to be differentially expressed, likely reflecting the 'steady-state' of the cortical reorganization upon chronic alteration in incoming sensory information (Vallès et al, 2014).…”

Section: 1) Input-dependent and Cell Type Specific Effects Of Briefmentioning

confidence: 70%

Cellular diversity of the somatosensory cortical map plasticity

Kole

¹

,

Scheenen

²

,

Tiesinga

³

et al. 2018

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews

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Sensory maps are representations of the sensory epithelia in the brain. Despite the intuitive explanatory power behind sensory maps as being neuronal precursors to sensory perception, and sensory cortical plasticity as a neural correlate of perceptual learning, molecular mechanisms that regulate map plasticity are not well understood. Here we perform a meta-analysis of transcriptional and translational changes during altered whisker use to nominate the major molecular correlates of experience-dependent map plasticity in the barrel cortex. We argue that brain plasticity is a systems level response, involving all cell classes, from neuron and glia to non-neuronal cells including endothelia. Using molecular pathway analysis, we further propose a gene regulatory network that could couple activity dependent changes in neurons to adaptive changes in neurovasculature, and finally we show that transcriptional regulations observed in major brain disorders target genes that are modulated by altered sensory experience. Thus, understanding the molecular mechanisms of experience-dependent plasticity of sensory maps might help to unravel the cellular events that shape brain plasticity in health and disease. peer-reviewed)

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“…Next steps may include assessing the long-term effects of taste strips on saliva production, oral health, perceptions of mouth dryness, and quality of life compared to other taste stimulation and dry mouth relief products. Beyond this immediate clinical relevance, future work will characterize the effects of taste stimulation on neural activity, including the potential of gustatory input to influence neuroprotection and adaptation in a manner similar to somatosensory input via trigeminal channels [32]. The present findings open the door to evaluating the efficacy of non-food taste stimuli as a management strategy for xerostomia and dysphagia.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Saliva Production and Enjoyment of Real-Food Flavors in People with and Without Dysphagia and/or Xerostomia

Dietsch

¹

,

Pelletier

²

,

Solomon

³

2018

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Non-food gustatory stimulation has multiple potential therapeutic benefits for people with dysphagia and xerostomia. This study examined palatability and saliva flow associated with dissolvable flavored films. Taste strips with real-food flavors dissolved on the tongues of 21 persons with dysphagia and/or xerostomia and 21 healthy age- and sex-matched adults while sublingual gauze pads absorbed saliva over randomized 3-min trials. Participants rated taste enjoyment for each trial on a hedonic general labeled magnitude scale. Flavored strips elicited more saliva than baseline for both groups, and production was higher for controls than patients (M = 2.386 and 1.091 g, respectively; p = 0.036). Main effects of flavor were observed for saliva production (p = 0.002) and hedonics (p < 0.001). Hedonic ratings and saliva production were weakly correlated (r = 0.293, p < 0.001). Results support dissolvable taste strips as a tool for providing low-risk taste stimulation in dysphagia and for eliciting an increase in saliva flow that may provide temporary relief from dry mouth symptoms. The preferred flavors were, on average, also the ones that elicited greater saliva production. Taste strips have the potential to be beneficial for swallowing-related neural activity, timing, and safety in dysphagia. Further, they may ameliorate complications of xerostomia.

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“…A common way to interpret large-scale molecular datasets is through the use of gene ontology study in which rats were subjected to EEE for 28 days, after which only 29 genes were found to be differentially expressed, likely reflecting the 'steady-state' of the cortical reorganization upon chronic alteration in incoming sensory information (Vallès et al, 2014).…”

Section: 1) Input-dependent and Cell Type Specific Effects Of Briefmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cellular diversity of the somatosensory cortical map plasticity

Kole

¹

,

Scheenen²,

Tiesinga

³

et al. 2017

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Sensory maps are representations of the sensory epithelia in the brain. Despite the intuitive explanatory power behind sensory maps as being neuronal precursors to sensory perception, and sensory cortical plasticity as a neural correlate of perceptual learning, molecular mechanisms that regulate map plasticity are not well understood. Here we perform a meta-analysis of transcriptional and translational changes during altered whisker use to nominate the major molecular correlates of experience-dependent map plasticity in the barrel cortex. We argue that brain plasticity is a systems level response, involving all cell classes, from neuron and glia to non-neuronal cells including endothelia. Using molecular pathway analysis, we further propose a gene regulatory network that could couple activity dependent changes in neurons to adaptive changes in neurovasculature, and finally we show that transcriptional regulations observed in major brain disorders target genes that are modulated by altered sensory experience. Thus, understanding the molecular mechanisms of experience-dependent plasticity of sensory maps might help to unravel the cellular events that shape brain plasticity in health and disease. peer-reviewed)

show abstract

Molecular correlates of cortical network modulation by long-term sensory experience in the adult rat barrel cortex

Cited by 5 publications

References 53 publications

Cellular diversity of the somatosensory cortical map plasticity

Cellular diversity of the somatosensory cortical map plasticity

Saliva Production and Enjoyment of Real-Food Flavors in People with and Without Dysphagia and/or Xerostomia

Cellular diversity of the somatosensory cortical map plasticity

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