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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #396406
Research Project: Molecular, Cellular, and Regulatory Aspects of Obesity Development

Location: Children's Nutrition Research Center

Title: Advancements in the quest to map, monitor, and manipulate neural circuitry

Author
item SWANSON, JESSICA - Baylor College Of Medicine
item CHIN, PEY - Baylor College Of Medicine
item ROMERO, JUAN - Baylor College Of Medicine
item SRIVASTAVA, SNIGDHA - Baylor College Of Medicine
item ORTIZ-GUZMAN, JOSHUA - Baylor College Of Medicine
item HUNT, PATRICK - Baylor College Of Medicine
item ARENKIEL, BENJAMIN - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)

Submitted to: Frontiers in Neural Circuits
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/27/2022
Publication Date: 5/26/2022
Citation: Swanson, J.L., Chin, P.S., Romero, J.M., Srivastava, S., Ortiz-Guzman, J., Hunt, P.J., Arenkiel, B.R. 2022. Advancements in the quest to map, monitor, and manipulate neural circuitry. Frontiers in Neural Circuits. 16. Article 886302. https://doi.org/10.3389/fncir.2022.886302.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fncir.2022.886302

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Neural circuits and the cells that comprise them represent the functional units of the brain. Circuits relay and process sensory information, maintain homeostasis, drive behaviors, and facilitate cognitive functions such as learning and memory. Creating a functionally-precise map of the mammalian brain requires anatomically tracing neural circuits, monitoring their activity patterns, and manipulating their activity to infer function. Advancements in cell-type-specific genetic tools allow interrogation of neural circuits with increased precision. This review provides a broad overview of recombination-based and activity-driven genetic targeting approaches, contemporary viral tracing strategies, electrophysiological recording methods, newly developed calcium, and voltage indicators, and neurotransmitter/neuropeptide biosensors currently being used to investigate circuit architecture and function. Finally, it discusses methods for acute or chronic manipulation of neural activity, including genetically-targeted cellular ablation, optogenetics, chemogenetics, and over-expression of ion channels. With this ever-evolving genetic toolbox, scientists are continuing to probe neural circuits with increasing resolution, elucidating the structure and function of the incredibly complex mammalian brain.