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A Dehaqani A, Michelon F, Patella P, Petrucco L, Piasini E, Iurilli G. A mechanosensory feedback that uncouples external and self-generated sensory responses in the olfactory cortex. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114013. [PMID: 38551962 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Sampling behaviors have sensory consequences that can hinder perceptual stability. In olfaction, sniffing affects early odor encoding, mimicking a sudden change in odor concentration. We examined how the inhalation speed affects the representation of odor concentration in the main olfactory cortex. Neurons combine the odor input with a global top-down signal preceding the sniff and a mechanosensory feedback generated by the air passage through the nose during inhalation. Still, the population representation of concentration is remarkably sniff invariant. This is because the mechanosensory and olfactory responses are uncorrelated within and across neurons. Thus, faster odor inhalation and an increase in concentration change the cortical activity pattern in distinct ways. This encoding strategy affords tolerance to potential concentration fluctuations caused by varying inhalation speeds. Since mechanosensory reafferences are widespread across sensory systems, the coding scheme described here may be a canonical strategy to mitigate the sensory ambiguities caused by movements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza A Dehaqani
- Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 38068 Rovereto, Italy; CIMeC, University of Trento, 38068 Rovereto, Italy
| | - Filippo Michelon
- Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 38068 Rovereto, Italy; CIMeC, University of Trento, 38068 Rovereto, Italy
| | - Paola Patella
- Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 38068 Rovereto, Italy
| | - Luigi Petrucco
- Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 38068 Rovereto, Italy
| | - Eugenio Piasini
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Giuliano Iurilli
- Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 38068 Rovereto, Italy.
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Strelevitz H, Dehaqani AA, Balasco L, Bozzi Y. Obtaining novel data-driven hypotheses from teaching activities: An example assessing the role of the FKBP5 gene in major depression. Eur J Neurosci 2023; 58:3595-3604. [PMID: 37649449 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Many clinical and research efforts aim to develop antidepressant drugs for those suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD). Yet, even today, the available treatments are suboptimal and unpredictable, with a significant proportion of patients enduring multiple drug attempts and adverse side effects before a successful response, and, for many patients, no response at all. Thus, a clearer understanding of the mechanisms underlying MDD is necessary. In the 'Brain Development and Disease' class of our Master's program in Cognitive Sciences, we ask students to collect data about the expression of a gene whose altered expression and/or function is related to a brain disorder. The students' final exam assignment consists of writing a research article in which the collected data are discussed in relation to the relevant disorder. In the course of one of these assignments, we identified the FKBP5 gene as a key player uniting two major hypotheses of MDD pathogenesis and treatment response. FKBP5 controls biological processes including immunoregulation and glucocorticoid function, both of which are separately implicated in the development and prognosis of MDD. Gene expression analyses from the human, non-human primate and mouse Allen Brain Atlases revealed that FKBP5 is expressed in brain regions involved in MDD, particularly at ages susceptible to early-life stressors. Data re-analysis from published studies confirmed that FKBP5 expression is upregulated in relevant brain regions in human MDD and preclinical mouse models of MDD. Our experience shows that classes engaging students in data collection and analysis projects may effectively result in novel data-driven hypotheses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather Strelevitz
- Master in Cognitive Sciences, Center for Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMeC), University of Trento, Rovereto, Trento, Italy
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMeC), University of Trento, Rovereto, Trento, Italy
| | - Alireza A Dehaqani
- Master in Cognitive Sciences, Center for Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMeC), University of Trento, Rovereto, Trento, Italy
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMeC), University of Trento, Rovereto, Trento, Italy
- Italian Institute of Technology, Rovereto, Trento, Italy
| | - Luigi Balasco
- Master in Cognitive Sciences, Center for Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMeC), University of Trento, Rovereto, Trento, Italy
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMeC), University of Trento, Rovereto, Trento, Italy
| | - Yuri Bozzi
- Master in Cognitive Sciences, Center for Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMeC), University of Trento, Rovereto, Trento, Italy
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMeC), University of Trento, Rovereto, Trento, Italy
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