This Week in Neuroscience

Mauro Costa-Mattioli discusses a probiotic trial improving social behavior in children with ASD, not severity. They explore targeting bacteria, trial criteria impact, and diet influences on behavior and autism spectrum disorder diagnoses.

The podcast discusses altered somatosensory reactivity in autism spectrum disorders, predicting ASD behaviors in mouse models. They explore touch processing in mice, inhibition in sensory pathways, genetic mutations related to ASD, and interventions for touch hypersensitivity. The hosts share personal experiences with sensory sensitivity and delve into the complexities of sensory processing dysfunction, environmental influences, and gene associations in ASD.

Discover how SARS-CoV-2 affects brain slices, synaptic connections, and neuronal activity post-infection. Learn about the use of peptide agonists to counteract virus effects and explore the impact on synaptic homeostasis. Dive into the challenges of studying neurological changes in organoids and the potential neurological deficits from COVID-19 variants.

TWiN welcomes mice to the elite club of ‘self-aware’ animals, with a study demonstrating a mirror-induced self-directed behavior in mice resembling visual self-recognition.  Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Timothy Cheung, and Vivianne Morrison Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Mice are self-aware (Neuron) Mirror self-recognition in mice (Neuron) Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your neuroscience questions and comments to twin@microbe.tv

Dive into the fascinating world of traumatic brain injury and the surprising role of endogenous retroviruses. Discover how these retroviruses impact the brain's immune response and cellular repair. The discussion highlights the implications of neuroinflammation and the evolving functions of glial cells in recovery. Unravel the intricate relationship between retroviruses and brain health, exploring their evolutionary significance in mammals. It's a revealing exploration of how our biology interacts with viral history!

An amazing study of a paralyzed man who regained ability to walk after brain-spinal cord interface implantation. Discussions on spinal cord injury impacts, electrode stimulation for walking, historical significance of neural pathways, movement decoding delays, innovative technology for walking after injuries, and potential central pattern generator in the spinal cord.

TWiN explains research showing that interaction between glioma cells and neurons in the brain shares mechanistic features with synaptic plasticity that contributes to memory and learning in the healthy brain.  Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Jason Shepherd, and Timothy Cheung Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Glioma synapses recruit mechanisms of adaptive plasticity (Nature) Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your neuroscience questions and comments to twin@microbe.tv

TWiN discusses research showing that sciatic nerve activation with electroacupuncture at the sciatic nerve controls systemic inflammation and rescues mice from polymicrobial peritonitis, by inducing vagal activation of aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase, leading to the production of dopamine in the adrenal medulla.  Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Jason Shepherd, and Timothy Cheung Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Electroacupuncture modulates the immune system (Nat Med) Electroacupuncture drives the vagal–adrenal axis (Nature) Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your neuroscience questions and comments to twin@microbe.tv

TWiN reviews a mouse model of ADHD and its hypersensitivity to pain. They explore the comorbidity between ADHD and autism, the use of stimulants for treatment, and the impact of inflammatory conditions. Methylphenidate helps with reducing hyperactivity but not pain hypersensitivity. They discuss the challenges and data richness in testing attention and response control in mice/rats. ADHD affects task performance and daily activities but medication and motivation can have positive effects. ADHD mice show heightened pain sensitivity and the no-cebo effect may play a role.

TWiN discusses a study of on the pathways that control opioid analgesic tolerance, a root cause of opioid overdose and misuse, which can develop through an associative learning. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Jason Shepherd, and Timothy Cheung Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Associative opioid analgesic tolerance (Sci Adv) Pavlovian-conditioned opioid tolerance (Sci Adv) Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your neuroscience questions and comments to twin@microbe.tv