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UID:20260412T142849EDT-3904cNFivV@132.216.98.100
DTSTAMP:20260412T182849Z
DESCRIPTION: \n\n \n\nNeuromodulation shapes motor output at all levels of 
 neural processing\n\n \n\nDirk Bucher\, PhD\n\nAssociate Professor\n\nFede
 rated Department of Biological Sciences\n	New Jersey Institute of Technolog
 y and Rutgers University-Newark\n\n \n\n A detailed and realistic quantita
 tive understanding of neural circuit function is difficult for two reasons
 . First\, despite similar activity patterns\, underlying circuit component
  properties (like the expression levels of specific ion channels in specif
 ic cell types or the strength of synapses) can vary substantially across i
 ndividuals. Second\, circuit activity is critically dependent on the prese
 nce of neuromodulators. A multitude of substances like biogenic amines and
  neuropeptides sculpt circuit activity by tuning the properties of ion cha
 nnels and synapses\, most often through G protein-coupled receptors and se
 cond messenger signaling. Although the influence of neuromodulators on ion
 -channel and synaptic currents has been extensively studied and there is a
 lso broad understanding of how neuromodulators change the output of neural
  circuits\, systems and even behavior\, the mechanisms through which modul
 ation of the components results in particular system outputs is much less 
 understood. Moreover\, few studies have examined how neuromodulators\, eve
 n those with overlapping or convergent actions\, interact at the component
  or circuit level. Such an exploration requires a neural circuit whose ana
 tomical connectivity is known and which can produce distinct and readily q
 uantifiable output in the presence of different neuromodulators.\n\nThe py
 loric circuit in the crustacean stomatogastric nervous system is one of th
 e few systems that satisfies these requirements\, and the rhythmic motor a
 ctivity of this central pattern generating circuit has served for decades 
 as a testbed for understanding the organizing principles of circuit activa
 tion. In our efforts towards a quantitative understanding of circuit activ
 ation\, our recent work shows modulation at all levels of processing\, inc
 luding intrinsic excitability\, synapse function\, axonal action potential
  conduction\, and muscle activation. Importantly\, the complex patterns of
  convergence and divergence of co-modulator effects are modulator- and cel
 l type-specific. Convergent co-modulation can be either mostly linearly ad
 ditive or exhibit substantial nonlinearities. In the first case\, converge
 nt modulation can actually serve to reduce variability\, i.e. ensure consi
 stent circuit responses across individuals in the face of variability of b
 aseline excitability and synaptic strengths. Finally\, we also have starte
 d to show that neuromodulator signaling itself is subject to ligand- and a
 ctivity-dependent long-term regulation to ensure stable responses.\n
DTSTART:20171012T160000Z
DTEND:20171012T170000Z
LOCATION:908\, McIntyre Medical Building\, CA\, QC\, Montreal\, H3G 1Y6\, 3
 655 promenade Sir William Osler
SUMMARY:QLS Featured Seminar Series - Dr. Dirk Bucher
URL:https://www.mcgill.ca/qls/channels/event/qls-featured-seminar-series-dr
 -dirk-bucher-282977
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