scholarly journals Dietary modulation of cortical excitation and inhibition

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 632-637 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anika K Smith ◽  
Alex R Wade ◽  
Kirsty EH Penkman ◽  
Daniel H Baker
Keyword(s):  
Dietary Intervention ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Gamma Aminobutyric Acid ◽  
Neural Responses ◽  
Dietary Interventions ◽  
Sensory Stimuli ◽  
Inhibitory Neurotransmitter ◽  
Clinical Benefits ◽  
Cortical Excitation ◽  
The Brain

The balance of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters in the brain affects both neural responses and behaviour in humans and animals. Here we investigated whether dietary intervention aimed at increasing levels of the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) can influence neural responses to basic sensory stimuli. Using a steady-state electroencephalography (EEG) paradigm, we found that the neural response to visual patterns was reduced in individuals who consumed a yeast extract product rich in substances associated with the production of GABA (glutamate and B vitamins), but not in a control group who consumed a placebo substance ( n = 14 per group). This demonstrates that the balance of excitation and inhibition in the brain can be influenced by dietary interventions, suggesting possible clinical benefits in conditions (e.g. epilepsy) where inhibition is abnormal.

scholarly journals Herbal Remedies and Their Possible Effect on the GABAergic System and Sleep

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 530
Author(s):  
Oliviero Bruni ◽  
Luigi Ferini-Strambi ◽  
Elena Giacomoni ◽  
Paolo Pellegrino
Keyword(s):  
Gaba Receptors ◽  
Herbal Medicines ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Herbal Remedies ◽  
Gamma Aminobutyric Acid ◽  
Systematic Analysis ◽  
Inhibitory Neurotransmitter ◽  
Alternative Medicines ◽  
Molecular Components ◽  
The Brain

Sleep is an essential component of physical and emotional well-being, and lack, or disruption, of sleep due to insomnia is a highly prevalent problem. The interest in complementary and alternative medicines for treating or preventing insomnia has increased recently. Centuries-old herbal treatments, popular for their safety and effectiveness, include valerian, passionflower, lemon balm, lavender, and Californian poppy. These herbal medicines have been shown to reduce sleep latency and increase subjective and objective measures of sleep quality. Research into their molecular components revealed that their sedative and sleep-promoting properties rely on interactions with various neurotransmitter systems in the brain. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that plays a major role in controlling different vigilance states. GABA receptors are the targets of many pharmacological treatments for insomnia, such as benzodiazepines. Here, we perform a systematic analysis of studies assessing the mechanisms of action of various herbal medicines on different subtypes of GABA receptors in the context of sleep control. Currently available evidence suggests that herbal extracts may exert some of their hypnotic and anxiolytic activity through interacting with GABA receptors and modulating GABAergic signaling in the brain, but their mechanism of action in the treatment of insomnia is not completely understood.

scholarly journals Edited Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Detects an Age-Related Decline in Nonhuman Primate Brain GABA Levels

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuanzi He ◽  
Bang-Bon Koo ◽  
Ronald J. Killiany
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Gray Matter ◽  
Posterior Cingulate Cortex ◽  
Resonance Spectroscopy ◽  
Gamma Aminobutyric Acid ◽  
Gaba Level ◽  
Inhibitory Neurotransmitter ◽  
Independent Variables ◽  
Age Related ◽  
The Brain

Recent research had shown a correlation between aging and decreasing Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. However, how GABA level varies with age in the medial portion of the brain has not yet been studied. The purpose of this study was to investigate the GABA level variation with age focusing on the posterior cingulate cortex, which is the “core hub” of the default mode network. In this study, 14 monkeys between 4 and 21 years were recruited, and MEGA-PRESS MRS was performed to measure GABA levels, in order to explore a potential link between aging and GABA. Our results showed that a correlation between age and GABA+/Creatine ratio was at the edge of significance (r=-0.523,p=0.081). There was also a near-significant trend between gray matter/white matter ratio and the GABA+/Creatine ratio (r=-0.518,p=0.0848). Meanwhile, the correlation between age and grey matter showed no significance (r=-0.028,p=0.93). Therefore, age and gray matter/white matter ratio account for different part ofR-squared (adjustedR-squared = 0.5187) as independent variables for predicting GABA levels. AdjustedR-squared is about 0.5 for two independent variables. These findings suggest that there is internal neurochemical variation of GABA levels in the nonhuman primates associated with normal aging and structural brain decline.

scholarly journals Visual cortex cTBS increases mixed percept duration while a-tDCS has no effect on binocular rivalry

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dania Abuleil ◽  
Daphne McCulloch ◽  
Benjamin Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cortex ◽  
Binocular Rivalry ◽  
Gamma Aminobutyric Acid ◽  
Gaba Concentration ◽  
Excitatory Neurotransmitter ◽  
Inhibitory Neurotransmitter ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Visual Cortices ◽  
Cortical Excitation ◽  
Theta Burst

AbstractNeuromodulation of the primary visual cortex using anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (a-tDCS) can alter visual perception and enhance neuroplasticity. However, the mechanisms that underpin these effects are currently unknown. When applied to the motor cortex, a-tDCS reduces the concentration of the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), an effect that has been linked to increased neuroplasticity. The aim of this study was to assess whether a-tDCS also reduces GABA-mediated inhibition when applied to the human visual cortex. Changes in visual cortex inhibition were measured using the mixed percept duration in binocular rivalry. Binocular rivalry mixed percept duration has recently been advocated as a direct and sensitive measure of visual cortex inhibition whereby GABA agonists decrease mixed percept durations and agonists of the excitatory neurotransmitter acetylcholine increase them. Our hypothesis was that visual cortex a-tDCS would increase mixed percept duration by reducing GABA-mediated inhibition and increasing cortical excitation. In addition, we measured the effect of continuous theta-burst transcranial magnetic stimulation (cTBS) of the visual cortex on binocular rivalry dynamics. When applied to the motor or visual cortex, cTBS increases GABA concentration and we therefore hypothesized that visual cortex cTBS would decrease the mixed percept duration. Binocular rivalry dynamics were recorded before and after active and sham a-tDCS (N=15) or cTBS (N=15). Contrary to our hypotheses, a-tDCS had no effect, whereas cTBS significantly increased mixed percepts during rivalry. These results suggest that the neurochemical mechanisms of a-tDCS may differ between the motor and visual cortices.

scholarly journals Visual cortex cTBS increases mixed percept duration while a-tDCS has no effect on binocular rivalry

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. e0239349
Author(s):  
Dania Abuleil ◽  
Daphne McCulloch ◽  
Benjamin Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cortex ◽  
Binocular Rivalry ◽  
Gamma Aminobutyric Acid ◽  
Gaba Concentration ◽  
Excitatory Neurotransmitter ◽  
Inhibitory Neurotransmitter ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Visual Cortices ◽  
Cortical Excitation ◽  
Theta Burst

Neuromodulation of the primary visual cortex using anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (a-tDCS) can alter visual perception and enhance neuroplasticity. However, the mechanisms that underpin these effects are currently unknown. When applied to the motor cortex, a-tDCS reduces the concentration of the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), an effect that has been linked to increased neuroplasticity. The aim of this study was to assess whether a-tDCS also reduces GABA-mediated inhibition when applied to the human visual cortex. Changes in visual cortex inhibition were measured using the mixed percept duration in binocular rivalry. Binocular rivalry mixed percept duration has recently been advocated as a direct and sensitive measure of visual cortex inhibition whereby GABA agonists decrease mixed percept durations and agonists of the excitatory neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACH) increase them. Our hypothesis was that visual cortex a-tDCS would increase mixed percept duration by reducing GABA-mediated inhibition and increasing cortical excitation. In addition, we measured the effect of continuous theta-burst transcranial magnetic stimulation (cTBS) of the visual cortex on binocular rivalry dynamics. When applied to the motor or visual cortex, cTBS increases GABA concentration and we therefore hypothesized that visual cortex cTBS would decrease the mixed percept duration. Binocular rivalry dynamics were recorded before and after active and sham a-tDCS (N = 15) or cTBS (N = 15). Contrary to our hypotheses, a-tDCS had no effect, whereas cTBS increased mixed percepts during rivalry. These results suggest that the neurochemical mechanisms of a-tDCS may differ between the motor and visual cortices.

scholarly journals Task-dependent modulation of SI physiological responses to targets and distractors

2013 ◽  
Vol 109 (4) ◽  
pp. 1036-1044 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elsie Spingath ◽  
Hyun-Sug Kang ◽  
David T. Blake
Keyword(s):  
Time Course ◽  
Cortical Plasticity ◽  
Task Demands ◽  
Neural Responses ◽  
Task Condition ◽  
Sensory Stimuli ◽  
Cortical Implants ◽  
Physically Identical ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Brain

Selective attention experimental designs have shown that neural responses to stimuli in primary somatosensory cortex are stronger when the sensory stimuli are task relevant. Other studies have used animals under no task demands for data collection. The relationship between neural responses in the brain during behavior, and while an animal has no task demands, remains underexplored. We trained two animals to perform somatosensory detection for several weeks, followed by somatosensory discrimination for several weeks. Data in response to physically identical stimuli were collected from cortical implants while the animal was under no task demands before each behavioral session and also during that behavioral session. The Fourier spectra of the field potentials during detection or discrimination compared with the no task condition demonstrated suppression of the somatosensory μ-rhythm that is associated with readiness and anticipation of cognitive use of somatosensory and motor inputs. Responses to the task target were stronger during detection and discrimination than in the no task condition. The amplitude normalized time course of the target evoked response was similar in both cases. Evoked responses to the task distractor were not significantly stronger during behavior than in recordings under no task demands. The normalized time course of the distractor responses showed a suppression that peaks 30–35 ms after the onset of the response. The selectivity of this within trial suppression is the same as the selectivity of enduring suppression evident in studies of sensory cortical plasticity, which suggests the same neural process may be responsible for both.

scholarly journals Jejunal inflammatory cytokines, barrier proteins and microbiome-metabolome responses to early supplementary feeding of Bamei suckling piglets

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin Jipeng ◽  
Jianlei Jia ◽  
Liping Zhang ◽  
Qian Chen ◽  
Xiaoyan Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Inflammatory Cytokines ◽  
Barrier Function ◽  
Dietary Intervention ◽  
Intestinal Barrier ◽  
Supplementary Feeding ◽  
Intestinal Barrier Function ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Average Weight ◽  
Dietary Interventions ◽  
Suckling Piglets

Abstract Background: Dietary intervention has been reported to improve intestinal health. The intestinal microbiota of newborn animals plays a fundamental role in the development of intestinal function and the innate immune system. However, little is currently known about dietary interventions in the gut microbiota and barrier function of livestock, especially suckling Bamei piglets. To this end, we studied the effect of early dietary supplementation on intestinal bacterial communities and intestinal barrier function in piglets.Results: 10 purebred Bamei sows were randomly allocated into two groups. In group one, the piglets received a supplementary milk replacer on day 7 of age, whereas the other control group was allowed sow’s milk alone. At 21 days, 18 and 17, respectively, piglets in each group of average weight were randomly selected and sacrificed. Tissue and digesta samples were collected from the jejunum to evaluate differences in the microbiome-metabolome and the mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines (TLR4, TNFα and IL-8) and barrier proteins (ZO-1, Occludin and Claudin-1)). Sequencing of 16S rRNA revealed that early supplementary feeding improved (p<0.05) the gut microbiome composition of Bamei suckling piglets. In addition, metabolomics analyses demonstrated simuitaneous responses as, mang gut microflora–related metabolites were also being affected. Meanwhile, early supplementary feeding of Bamei suckling piglets altered the gene expression of inflammatory cytokine and barrier protein in the jejunum. Conclusions: In summary, these results provide important insights on the relationships between jejunal microbiota and related metabolites, and jejunal barrier function during the early life of Bamei suckling piglets.

scholarly journals Best (but oft-forgotten) practices: sample size and power calculation for a dietary intervention trial with episodically consumed foods

2020 ◽  
Vol 112 (4) ◽  
pp. 920-925
Author(s):  
Wei Zhang ◽  
Aiyi Liu ◽  
Zhiwei Zhang ◽  
Tonja Nansel ◽  
Susan Halabi
Keyword(s):  
Sample Size ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Intervention Studies ◽  
Dietary Intervention ◽  
Dietary Guidelines ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Power Calculation ◽  
Sample Sizes ◽  
Dietary Interventions ◽  
Dietary Intervention Trial

ABSTRACT Dietary interventions often target foods that are underconsumed relative to dietary guidelines, such as vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Because these foods are only consumed episodically for some participants, data from such a study often contains a disproportionally large number of zeros due to study participants who do not consume any of the target foods on the days that dietary intake is assessed, thus generating semicontinuous data. These zeros need to be properly accounted for when calculating sample sizes to ensure that the study is adequately powered to detect a meaningful intervention effect size. Nonetheless, this issue has not been well addressed in the literature. Instead, methods that are common for continuous outcomes are typically used to compute the sample sizes, resulting in a substantially under- or overpowered study. We propose proper approaches to calculating the sample size needed for dietary intervention studies that target episodically consumed foods. Sample size formulae are derived for detecting the mean difference in the amount of intake of an episodically consumed food between an intervention and a control group. Numerical studies are conducted to investigate the accuracy of the sample size formulae as compared with the ad hoc methods. The simulation results show that the proposed formulae are appropriate for estimating the sample sizes needed to achieve the desired power for the study. The proposed method for sample size is recommended for designing dietary intervention studies targeting episodically consumed foods.

The GABA system and addiction

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J. Nutt ◽  
Liam J. Nestor
Keyword(s):  
Potential Role ◽  
Abuse Liability ◽  
Aminobutyric Acid ◽  
Gamma Aminobutyric Acid ◽  
Substance Addiction ◽  
Inhibitory Neurotransmitter ◽  
Gaba System ◽  
Clinical Potential ◽  
The Brain

Research points to the potential role of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in substance addiction. GABA is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. Disturbances in the GABA system may predate substance abuse and addiction, whereby its efficacy to modulate other neurotransmitter systems (e.g. dopamine) strongly implicated in substance addiction behaviours is impaired. There are a number of addictive substances that boost GABA functioning, however, such as alcohol and benzodiazepines. Medications that boost the availability of GABA or mimic its effects at receptors may possess some clinical potential in treating addiction, but also have abuse liability.

Changes in the brain levels of GABA and related amino acids in anoxic shore crab (Carcinus maenas)

1993 ◽  
Vol 264 (4) ◽  
pp. R733-R737 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. E. Nilsson ◽  
S. Winberg
Keyword(s):  
Carcinus Maenas ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Shore Crab ◽  
Gamma Aminobutyric Acid ◽  
Inhibitory Neurotransmitter ◽  
Brain Levels ◽  
Taurine Level ◽  
Animal Phyla ◽  
Amino Acid Levels ◽  
The Brain

The effects of anoxia on the brain concentrations of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamate, aspartate, glutamine, alanine, and taurine were measured in the shore crab (Carcinus maenas) and compared with data previously obtained from anoxia-tolerant vertebrates. C. maenas was found to survive 12 h in nitrogen-bubbled water. The changes found in brain amino acid levels were strikingly similar to those seen in anoxia-tolerant vertebrates. Thus, during anoxia, the brain of C. maenas displayed considerable increases in the concentrations of GABA (2.4-fold increase after 12 h) and alanine (8-fold increase after 12 h). By contrast, the brain levels of glutamate, aspartate, and glutamine fell significantly during anoxia, whereas the taurine level remained unchanged. Because GABA is a major inhibitory neurotransmitter in arthropods (as well as in most animal phyla), it is suggested that the increased level of GABA could promote the anoxic metabolic depression displayed by C. maenas and thus prolong anoxic survival. It is also possible that the decreases in glutamate and aspartate levels could play similar roles.

CHANGES IN SERUM TSH LEVEL AFTER INTRAVENTRICULAR INJECTION OF VARIOUS NEUROMEDIATORS IN RATS

1978 ◽  
Vol 87 (2) ◽  
pp. 279-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henryk Holak ◽  
Agata Baldys ◽  
Barbara Jarzab ◽  
Antoni Wystrychowski ◽  
Jan Skrzypek
Keyword(s):  
Lateral Ventricle ◽  
Aminobutyric Acid ◽  
Intraventricular Injection ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Gamma Aminobutyric Acid ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Tsh Secretion ◽  
Surgical Manipulations ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Serum Tsh

ABSTRACT The influence of various neuromediators on pituitary TSH secretion in rats has been investigated. Noradrenaline 50 μg/rat, dopamine 50 μg/rat, serotonine-creatinine-sulphate 100 μg/rat, gamma-aminobutyric acid 100 μg/rat, pilocarpine 1 mg/rat, histamine 100 μ/rat were administered into the lateral ventricle of the brain. All agents were dissolved in Parker's fluid. Two control groups of animals were given Parker's fluid and subjected to surgical manipulations, respectively. Plasma TSH level was estimated after 30 min by means of radioimmunoassay. The increase in the TSH level was observed after the injection of serotonine and noradrenaline (4.0 and 3.1 ng/ml, respectively) as compared with control group (0.7 ng/ml).

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