First peek at how neurons multitask by 1kiki

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First peek at how neurons multitask

POSTED BY: 1KIKI
UPDATED: Wednesday, November 12, 2014 18:52
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Monday, November 10, 2014 9:00 PM

Goodbye, kind world (George Monbiot) - In common with all those generations which have contemplated catastrophe, we appear to be incapable of understanding what confronts us.

Researchers at the Univ. of Michigan have shown how a single neuron can perform multiple functions in a model organism, illuminating for the first time this fundamental biological mechanism and shedding light on the human brain.

Investigators in the laboratory of Shawn Xu at the Life Sciences Institute found that a neuron in C. elegans, a tiny worm with a simple nervous system used as a model for studying sensation, movement and other neurological function, regulates both the speed and direction in which the worm moves. The individual neurons can route information through multiple downstream neural circuits, with each circuit controlling a specific behavioral output.

The findings are published online in Cell.

"Understanding how the nervous system and genes lead to behavior is a fundamental question in neuroscience, and we wanted to figure out how C. elegans are able to perform a wide range of complex behaviors with their small nervous systems," Xu said.

The C. elegans nervous system contains 302 neurons.

"Scientists think that even though humans have billions of neurons, some perform multiple functions. Seeing the mechanism in worms will help to understand the human brain," Xu said.

The model neuron studied, AIY, regulates at least two distinct motor outputs: locomotion speed and direction-switch. AIY interacts with two circuits, one that is inhibitory and controls changes in the direction of the worm's movement, and a second that is excitatory and controls speed.

"It's important to note that these two circuits have connections with other neurons and may cross-talk with each other," Xu said. "Neuronal control of behavior is very complex."

Source: Univ. of Michigan

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Tuesday, November 11, 2014 3:00 PM

SIGNYM

I believe in solving problems, not sharing them.

Huh, interesting. The question becomes... HOW does the neuron switch tasks? Is it based on inputs from other neurons? That's my guess, anyway.

In the human brain there are a pair of structures which seem to be specifically responsible for sensation switching and timing, which are the thalami. The frontal lobes are responsible for task-and-attention-switching. Of course, in the hippocampi, there has to be some sort of switch that allows people to pull out the appropriate memory. So I guess I can imagine that all of the "gray matter" neurons (I think both the thalami and hippocampi are considered "deep gray matter") have some switching functions attached, but the potential complexity is mind-boggling.

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You can't build a nation with bombs. You can't create a society with guns.

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Tuesday, November 11, 2014 4:30 PM

1KIKI

Goodbye, kind world (George Monbiot) - In common with all those generations which have contemplated catastrophe, we appear to be incapable of understanding what confronts us.

Their description of 'first time ever' was a little bombastic. I have an article about something similar (I'd have to dig it out) from a few months ago - that indicated the specific output was dependent on the signal frequency. But they are a breakthrough in the basic understanding of neurology.

SAGAN: We are releasing vast quantities of carbon dioxide, increasing the greenhouse effect. It may not take much to destabilize the Earth's climate, to convert this heaven, our only home in the cosmos, into a kind of hell.

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Wednesday, November 12, 2014 12:06 AM

JONGSSTRAW

Kuku: So how are your neurons doing today?

Sniggy: Hard to say, I'm standing in shit.

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Wednesday, November 12, 2014 12:16 AM

1KIKI

Goodbye, kind world (George Monbiot) - In common with all those generations which have contemplated catastrophe, we appear to be incapable of understanding what confronts us.

Jongsie must be sloshed again.

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Wednesday, November 12, 2014 6:52 PM

1KIKI

Goodbye, kind world (George Monbiot) - In common with all those generations which have contemplated catastrophe, we appear to be incapable of understanding what confronts us.

bumped for REAL WORLD EVENTS

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