Ionic Influence
Free response
What is something you learned about modulation of ion channels?
It is also known as a wiring diagram.
What is a connectome?
Unlike classic neurotransmitters (like Glutamate) which are stored in small synaptic vesicles, neuropeptides are typically stored in these.
What are dense core vesicles?
Free response
What is something you learned about receptors involved in neuromodulation?
Presence of more than one chemical messenger in a neuron.
What is cotransmission?
When a neuromodulator (like a neuropeptide or dopamine) triggers a GPCR, it can decrease the number of available ones of these, increasing cell excitability.
What are K+ leak channels?
This tiny worm was the first organism to have its complete nervous system anatomical connections mapped, famously published in 1986.
What is C. elegans?
In addition to the alpha subunit, this G-protein component can directly bind to presynaptic calcium channels to inhibit neurotransmitter release.
What is the beta-gamma complex?
A biogenic amine has both ionotropic and metabotropic receptors.
What is serotonin?
Unlike neurotransmission, which acts via targeted synaptic clefts, neuromodulation often acts via this process where chemicals diffuse over longer distances to reach receptors.
What is volume transmission?
This is a characteristic "plateau" current that allows some neurons to generate a burst of action potentials without constant excitatory input.
What is the Persistent Sodium Current (Inap) (or long open time Calcium current)?
Activity of this region enhances activity in brain circuitry related to attention.
What is the locus coeruleus?
While many electron microscopy studies focus on chemical synapses, they often struggle to accurately map these direct connections between neurons.
What are gap junction (electrical synapses)?
These lipid-derived molecules are released from the postsynaptic neuron and bind to receptors on the presynaptic terminal to alter neurotransmitter release.
What are endocannabinoids?
This method uses light to modulate the activity of genetically defined neurons, such as populations of modulatory neurons.
What is optogenetics?
The reaction in which modulators alter ion channel properties by adding or subtracting specific molecules to cause conformational changes.
What is phosphorylation/de-phosphorylation?
When multiple neurons generate rhythmic output without the need for rhythmic input.
What is a central pattern generator (CPG)?
This term describes the phenomenon where the strength of a synapse changes based on the history of its own activity.
What is activity-dependent (short-term) plasticity or synaptic dynamics?
Unlike ionotropic receptors, these receptors exert their effects through G-proteins and intracellular second messengers like cAMP.
What are GPCRs (G-protein-coupled receptors)?
This represents the "gold standard" for future clinical neuromodulation: a device that senses pathological biomarkers (like abnormal oscillations) and delivers stimulation only when necessary.
What is Closed-Loop Stimulation (or Demand-based Stimulation)?
This specific ion channel is often the target of neuromodulators to alter the threshold of the "pacemaker" potential in neurons.
What is the Ih (HCN) channel?
These two core mechanisms are the primary building blocks of the two types of CPGs to produce rhythmic, alternating activity.
What are reciprocal inhibition (half-center) and pacemaker neurons?
Can cause release of a classical transmitter at low levels and neuropeptides at higher levels.
What is presynaptic firing frequency (or calcium concentration in presynaptic terminal)?
The most prevalent GPCRs in the nervous system.
What are endocannabinoid receptors?
This class of genetically encoded sensors allows researchers to "see" real-time fluctuations of neuromodulators like dopamine or serotonin at the synapse.
What are GRAB sensors (GPCR-Activation-Based sensors)?