Based on the movement and accumulation of ions in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide ([EMIM]DCA) electrolyte under a positive gate bias, electrical double layer (EDL) was formed between nanomesh channel [EMIM]DCA to contribute increase conductance channel. The basic functions artificial synapses, such as excitatory postsynaptic current (EPSC), paired pulse facilitation (PPF), short-term pl...

To study the type of presynaptic calcium channels controlling transmitter release at synaptic connections displaying depression or facilitation, dual whole cell recordings combined with biocytin labelling were performed in acute slices from motor cortex of 17to 22-day-old rats. Layer V postsynaptic interneurons displayed either fast spiking (FS) (n 5 12) or burst firing (BF) (n 5 12) behaviour....

Dual whole cell patch-clamp recordings in rat nucleus accumbens, the main component of the ventral striatum, were made to assess the presence of synaptic interconnections between medium-sized spiny neurons, a group of GABAergic and peptidergic neurons that constitute the principal cells of the striatum. Neurons were stained with biocytin for subsequent morphological analysis. Electrical activit...

Excitatory synaptic transmission between pyramidal cells and fast-spiking (FS) interneurons of layer V of the motor cortex was investigated in acute slices by using paired recordings at 30 degrees C combined with morphological analysis. The presynaptic and postsynaptic properties at these identified central synapses were compared between 3- and 5-week-old rats. At these two postnatal developmen...

Inner hair cells (IHCs) in the mammalian cochlea are able to continuously release neurotransmitter in the presence of constant stimuli. Nonetheless, strong synaptic depression is observed over the first few milliseconds of stimulation. This process most likely underlies adaptation in the auditory nerve. In the present study we demonstrate that under certain conditions of stimulation, facilitati...

The knowledge on real-time neurophysiological effects of acetazolamide is still far behind the wide clinical use of this drug. Acetazolamide - a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor - has been shown to affect the neuromuscular transmission, implying a pH-mediated influence on the central synaptic transmission. To start filling such a gap, we chose a central substrate: hippocampal-prefrontal cortical pr...

Neural prostheses, such as cochlear and retinal implants, induce perceptual responses by electrically stimulating sensory nerves. These devices restore sensory system function by using patterned electrical stimuli to evoke neural responses. An understanding of their function requires knowledge of the nerves responses to relevant electrical stimuli as well as the likely effects of pathology on n...

Theta burst stimulation (TBS) produces an extremely stable form of long-term potentiation (LTP). In contrast, a brief episode of single-pulse stimulation at theta frequency [theta pulse stimulation (TPS)] has been demonstrated to reverse LTP in area CA1 of slices and freely moving animals without causing depression when administered to nonpotentiated pathways. The present in vitro studies confi...

Connections between the premotor cortex and the primary motor cortex are dense and are important in the visual guidance of arm movements. We have shown previously that it is possible to engage these connections in humans and to measure the net amount of inhibition/facilitation from premotor to motor cortex using single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The aim of this study was to ...

The perforant path input (pp) is a major direct source of specific sensory information for the CA1 hippocampal region. The termination area of this pathway, the stratum lacunosum-moleculare, has the highest concentration of dopamine receptors in the hippocampus. We have examined the properties of the pp input and its modulation by dopamine. The input is glutamatergic and has a larger NMDA compo...