A Snapshot seminar hosted by the School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience
Dr Marc Ten Blanco: Exploring inter-individual differences in fear extinction in male and female mice
Abstract: Exposure to traumatic life events may compromise physical and mental health of specific subjects. While some individuals extinguish fear appropriately, others exhibit an inefficient and persistent fear response, with remarkable differences between sexes. Though progress has been made in determining specific conditions that confer resilience/vulnerability to develop fear impairments, understanding the heterogeneity in fear extinction responses is essential for elucidating the underlying mechanisms of fear-related disorders. In this study, we use a multidisciplinary approach analysing the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis tone, the microbiota composition, and the transcriptome of the amygdala - primary brain region involved in fear regulation - in adult male and female mice that are exposed to the classical Pavlovian fear conditioning and extinction paradigm. By using this model, we stratify the mice population into two extreme phenotypic subgroups (resilient and susceptible), based on their individual fear extinction behaviour. In this talk, we will discuss the more relevant findings, thus exploring the involvement of multiple factors shaping the inter-individual variability of fear extinction response in a sex-dependent manner.
Dr Pi-shan Chang: Disrupted neural oscillations and synchrony in down syndrome: insights from mouse studies
Abstract: Down syndrome (DS) is a leading genetic cause of intellectual disability, with growing research efforts aimed at understanding its underlying neurobiological mechanisms. Studies using DS mouse models have revealed significant disruptions in neural circuits, particularly in oscillatory activity and network synchrony. These abnormalities are linked to cognitive impairments observed in DS models, providing crucial insights into disease mechanisms. This talk will explore recent electrophysiological findings in DS mouse models, highlighting alterations in neuronal oscillations and their impact on brain function. Additionally, we will discuss emerging paradigms for investigating molecular dysfunctions that contribute to these network disturbances. Understanding the complexities of neural oscillations in DS models may pave the way for targeted therapeutic strategies to mitigate cognitive deficits.