Casting a wide net: role of perineuronal nets in neural plasticity

BA Sorg, S Berretta, JM Blacktop… - Journal of …, 2016 - Soc Neuroscience
Perineuronal nets (PNNs) are unique extracellular matrix structures that wrap around certain
neurons in the CNS during development and control plasticity in the adult CNS. They appear …

Cerebellar contributions to the basal ganglia influence motor coordination, reward processing, and movement vigor

J Yoshida, M Oñate, L Khatami, J Vera… - Journal of …, 2022 - Soc Neuroscience
Both the cerebellum and the basal ganglia are known for their roles in motor control and
motivated behavior. These two systems have been classically considered as independent …

An extracellular perspective on CNS maturation: perineuronal nets and the control of plasticity

D Carulli, J Verhaagen - International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2021 - mdpi.com
During restricted time windows of postnatal life, called critical periods, neural circuits are
highly plastic and are shaped by environmental stimuli. In several mammalian brain areas …

Expanding the genetic architecture of nicotine dependence and its shared genetics with multiple traits

BC Quach, MJ Bray, NC Gaddis, M Liu… - Nature …, 2020 - nature.com
Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality. Genetic
variation contributes to initiation, regular smoking, nicotine dependence, and cessation. We …

Understanding the effects of serotonin in the brain through its role in the gastrointestinal tract

JM Shine, C O'Callaghan, IC Walpola, G Wainstein… - Brain, 2022 - academic.oup.com
The neuromodulatory arousal system imbues the nervous system with the flexibility and
robustness required to facilitate adaptive behaviour. While there are well understood …

Genome-wide association study implicates CHRNA2 in cannabis use disorder

D Demontis, VM Rajagopal, TE Thorgeirsson… - Nature …, 2019 - nature.com
Cannabis is the most frequently used illicit psychoactive substance worldwide; around one
in ten users become dependent. The risk for cannabis use disorder (CUD) has a strong …

Human genetics of addiction: new insights and future directions

DB Hancock, CA Markunas, LJ Bierut… - Current psychiatry …, 2018 - Springer
Abstract Purpose of Review With the advent of the genome-wide association study (GWAS),
our understanding of the genetics of addiction has made significant strides forward. Here …

The cerebellum directly modulates the substantia nigra dopaminergic activity

S Washburn, M Oñate, J Yoshida, J Vera… - Nature …, 2024 - nature.com
Evidence of direct reciprocal connections between the cerebellum and basal ganglia has
challenged the long-held notion that these structures function independently. While …

Paradoxical antidepressant effects of alcohol are related to acid sphingomyelinase and its control of sphingolipid homeostasis

CP Müller, LS Kalinichenko, J Tiesel, M Witt… - Acta …, 2017 - Springer
Alcohol is a widely consumed drug that can lead to addiction and severe brain damage.
However, alcohol is also used as self-medication for psychiatric problems, such as …

Chronic cigarette smoking is linked with structural alterations in brain regions showing acute nicotinic drug-induced functional modulations

MT Sutherland, MC Riedel, JS Flannery… - Behavioral and Brain …, 2016 - Springer
Background Whereas acute nicotine administration alters brain function which may, in turn,
contribute to enhanced attention and performance, chronic cigarette smoking is linked with …