Approaches and considerations of studying neuronal ensembles: a brief review
First theorized by Hebb, neuronal ensembles have provided a framework for understanding how the mammalian brain operates, especially regarding learning and memory. Neuronal ensembles are discrete, sparsely distributed groups of neurons that become activated in response to a specific stimulus and are...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fncel.2023.1310724/full |
| _version_ | 1797390936265719808 |
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| author | Cameron J. Davidson Alixandria T. Mascarin Majd A. Yahya F. Javier Rubio Ali Gheidi |
| author_facet | Cameron J. Davidson Alixandria T. Mascarin Majd A. Yahya F. Javier Rubio Ali Gheidi |
| author_sort | Cameron J. Davidson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | First theorized by Hebb, neuronal ensembles have provided a framework for understanding how the mammalian brain operates, especially regarding learning and memory. Neuronal ensembles are discrete, sparsely distributed groups of neurons that become activated in response to a specific stimulus and are thought to provide an internal representation of the world. Beyond the study of region-wide or projection-wide activation, the study of ensembles offers increased specificity and resolution to identify and target specific memories or associations. Neuroscientists interested in the neurobiology of learning, memory, and motivated behavior have used electrophysiological-, calcium-, and protein-based proxies of neuronal activity in preclinical models to better understand the neurobiology of learned and motivated behaviors. Although these three approaches may be used to pursue the same general goal of studying neuronal ensembles, technical differences lead to inconsistencies in the output and interpretation of data. This mini-review highlights some of the methodologies used in electrophysiological-, calcium-, and protein-based studies of neuronal ensembles and discusses their strengths and weaknesses. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T23:24:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2d10898ec51f493da0d9ab2f7aed60b1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-5102 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T23:24:34Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-2d10898ec51f493da0d9ab2f7aed60b12023-12-14T17:25:01ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience1662-51022023-12-011710.3389/fncel.2023.13107241310724Approaches and considerations of studying neuronal ensembles: a brief reviewCameron J. Davidson0Alixandria T. Mascarin1Majd A. Yahya2F. Javier Rubio3Ali Gheidi4William Beaumont School of Medicine, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, United StatesDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United StatesDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United StatesNeuronal Ensembles in Addiction Section, Behavioral Neuroscience Research Branch, Intramural Research Program/National Institute on Drug Abuse/National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United StatesDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, Mercer University, Macon, GA, United StatesFirst theorized by Hebb, neuronal ensembles have provided a framework for understanding how the mammalian brain operates, especially regarding learning and memory. Neuronal ensembles are discrete, sparsely distributed groups of neurons that become activated in response to a specific stimulus and are thought to provide an internal representation of the world. Beyond the study of region-wide or projection-wide activation, the study of ensembles offers increased specificity and resolution to identify and target specific memories or associations. Neuroscientists interested in the neurobiology of learning, memory, and motivated behavior have used electrophysiological-, calcium-, and protein-based proxies of neuronal activity in preclinical models to better understand the neurobiology of learned and motivated behaviors. Although these three approaches may be used to pursue the same general goal of studying neuronal ensembles, technical differences lead to inconsistencies in the output and interpretation of data. This mini-review highlights some of the methodologies used in electrophysiological-, calcium-, and protein-based studies of neuronal ensembles and discusses their strengths and weaknesses.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fncel.2023.1310724/fullcell assembliesimmediate early geneFoscalcium imagingelectrophysiology |
| spellingShingle | Cameron J. Davidson Alixandria T. Mascarin Majd A. Yahya F. Javier Rubio Ali Gheidi Approaches and considerations of studying neuronal ensembles: a brief review Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience cell assemblies immediate early gene Fos calcium imaging electrophysiology |
| title | Approaches and considerations of studying neuronal ensembles: a brief review |
| title_full | Approaches and considerations of studying neuronal ensembles: a brief review |
| title_fullStr | Approaches and considerations of studying neuronal ensembles: a brief review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Approaches and considerations of studying neuronal ensembles: a brief review |
| title_short | Approaches and considerations of studying neuronal ensembles: a brief review |
| title_sort | approaches and considerations of studying neuronal ensembles a brief review |
| topic | cell assemblies immediate early gene Fos calcium imaging electrophysiology |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fncel.2023.1310724/full |
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