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Activity within neural circuits shapes the synaptic properties of component neurons in a manner that maintains stable excitatory drive, a process referred to as homeostatic plasticity. These potent and adaptive mechanisms have been demonstrated to modulate activity at the level of an individual neuron, synapse, circuit, or entire network, and dysregulation at some or all of these levels may contribute to neuropsychiatric disorders, intellectual disability, and epilepsy. Greater mechanistic understanding of homeostatic plasticity will provide key insights into the etiology of these disorders, which may result from network instability and synaptic dysfunction. Over the past 15 years, the molec...
Chronic degenerative diseases are one of the major public health problems, particularly those affecting the nervous system. They are characterized by the degeneration of specific cell populations that include several pathologies which contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality in the elderly population. Therefore, in recent years, the study of neuroscience has gained significant importance. Most of these neurodegenerative disorders are the result of a complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors that generate progression and can even determine its severity. The presence of mutations in genes as LRRK2, SNCA, PARK7, PARK2 or PINK1 is associated with Parkinson's diseas...
One of the most challenging questions in neurobiology to tackle is how the serotonergic system steers neurodevelopment. With the increase in serotonergic anxiolytic and antidepressant drugs, serotonin was thought to signal adversity or to serve as an emotional signal. However, a vast amount of literature is accumulating showing that serotonin rather mediates neuroplasticity and plays a key role in early developmental processes. For instance, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serving as antidepressants, increase neurogenesis and trigger autism-related brain and behavioural changes during embryonic and perinatal exposure. Moreover, serotonin transporter gene variation is associa...
Neurobiology and Physiology of the Endocannabinoid System offers readers a comprehensive reference on the neurobiology of this system and the use of cannabimimetic compounds to induce neurological changes and confer symptom relief. With sections on both natural and synthetic compounds, the book's broad coverage allows readers to learn about their use with multiple conditions, as well as the working biology of the endocannabinoid system, its receptors and its ligands. This volume provides a platform for research on the effects of this system and its modulation in brain function and neurological dysfunction. - Summarizes research on the working neurobiology of the endocannabinoid system - Contains chapter abstracts, key facts, a dictionary and a summary - Covers both natural cannabinoids and synthetic or exogenous cannabimimetics - Includes conditions like headache, anxiety, stress and neuroinflammation - Discusses system modulation in the context of pain, traumatic brain injury and obesity
Traditionally, abnormalities of neurons and neuronal networks including synaptic abnormalities and disturbance of neurotransmitters have dominantly been believed to be the main causes of psychiatric disorders. Recent cellular neuroscience has revealed various unknown roles of glial cells such as astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and microglia. These glial cells have proved to continuously contact with neurons /synapses, and have been shown to play important roles in brain development, homeostasis and various brain functions. Beyond the classic neuronal doctrine, accumulating evidence has suggested that abnormalities and disturbances of neuron-glia crosstalk may induce psychiatric disorders, while...
One fundamental requisite for a comprehensive view on brain function and cognition is the understanding of the neuronal network activity of the brain. Neurons are organized into complex networks, interconnected through synapses. The main sites for excitatory synapses in the brain are thin protrusions called dendritic spines that emerge from dendrites. Dendritic spines have a distinct morphology with a specific molecular organization. They are considered as subcellular compartments that constrain diffusion and influence signal processing by the neuron and, hence, spines are functional integrative units for which morphology and function are tightly coupled. The density of spines along the dend...