Studying the neural networks controlling higher brain functions in the marmoset, to gain new insights into information processing and diseases of the human brain.
Brain Mapping by Integrated Neurotechnologies for Disease Studies
Brain Mapping by Integrated Neurotechnologies for Disease Studies
Studying the neural networks controlling higher brain functions in the marmoset, to gain new insights into information processing and diseases of the human brain.
We confirmed, for the first time, that Lewy bodies contained amyloid fibrils using autopsied brains of Parkinson's disease patients. Collaborative research with the large-scale synchrotron radiation facility, SPring-8, enabled ultrastructural analysis of aggregates in brain sections. These new findings are expected to be applied to the development of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for Parkinson's disease.
Alzheimer’s disease protein links plaques to cell death in mice
A new protein involved in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has been identified by researchers at the RIKEN Center for Brain Science (CBS). CAPON may facilitate the connection between the two most well-known AD culprits, amyloid plaques and tau pathology, whose interactions cause brain cell death and symptoms of dementia. This latest finding from the Takaomi Saido group at RIKEN CBS uses a novel mouse model of AD.
The study was published in Nature Communications on June 3.
We here developed a multicolor GECI suite, "XCaMP", which enables to image high-frequency firing patterns, non-invasively measure hippocampal CA1 dynamics, and simultaneously record pre- and postsynaptic firing, or co-image neuronal activities in 4 distinct celltypes. XCaMPs will be useful for elucidating complex brain circuit dynamics in health and neuropsychiatric diseases.
Human, who has cooperative society, can tell who has reciprocity and who does not, by observing others' interaction. This study showed that highly prosocial common marmosets have this ability, but despotic Japanese monkeys do not. These results suggest that common marmoset is a suitable animal model for studying human social disorder, such as autism.
In the neonatal autism-model marmoset, we showed a significant reduction of anterior commissure, which connected bilateral social brains. Abnormal expression of axon guidance molecules mediating formation of anterior commissure were also observed in this animal-model. These features might be useful for early diagnosis and early intervention/ therapy of human autism.
