Catalog

ASAP is committed to accelerating the pace of discovery and informing a path to a cure for Parkinson’s disease through collaboration, research-enabling resources, and data sharing. We’ve created this catalog to showcase the research outputs and tools developed by ASAP-funded programs.

Article

Ca2+ channels couple spiking to mitochondrial metabolism in substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons

Published: The authors explore how cellular energy production and demand are matched. By studying the pacemaking activity of dopaminergic neurons using a combination of electrophysiolocal, optical, and molecular method, they found that spike- activated calcium ion entry triggered calcium ion release from the ER, causing mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation to occur through two calcium-dependent mechanisms.

Article

Effects of neural heterogeneity on spiking neural network dynamics

Preprint: The authors want to understand how neural heterogeneity affect macroscopic neural dynamics and contribute to neurodynamic functions. Here, authors study the macroscopic dynamics of networks of heterogeneous Izhikevich neurons. Their analysis suggests that the level of heterogeneity of inhibitory populations controls resonance and hysteresis properties of systems of coupled excitatory and inhibitory neurons.

Article

Macroscopic dynamics of neural networks with heterogeneous spiking thresholds

Preprint: The authors develop a new computational model to represent different neuron types and spiking dynamics. The model is comprised of biophysical state variables and parameters, incorporates realistic spike resetting conditions, and accounts for heterogeneity in neural spiking thresholds. These features allow for a broad applicability of the model as well as for a direct comparison to experimental data.

 

Article

Motor learning selectively strengthens cortical and striatal synapses of motor engram neurons

Publication: Learning and consolidating new motor skills require plasticity in the motor cortex and striatum, two key motor regions of the brain. However, how neurons undergo synaptic changes and become recruited during motor learning to form a memory remains unknown. Here the authors identify M1 engram neurons important for memory.