August 26, 2013
Canadian Center for Behavioural
Neuroscience
University of Lethbridge
Organizers:
Dr.
Artur Luczak
Dr.
Gerlinde Metz
Keiko
McCreary
Judges:
Dr.
David Euston
Dr.
Robbin Gibb
Dr.
Gerlinde Metz
Moderators:
Dr.
Artur Luczak
Keiko
McCreary
Sponsored by:
endMS
Research and Training Network
Lethbridge
Public Interest Research Group
Lethbridge
chapter of SfN
Canadian
Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience
Results:
This
year Summer Student Symposium was great success with 20 excellent presentations
from our students. I especially would like to congratulate to winners which
were:
First
Place: Kelly Mills (Gonzalez lab)
Second
Place: Scott Wong (Gruber lab)
Third
Place: Loni Harker (Kolb and Gibb
labs)
Honorable
mention:
Tyler Forster (McNaughton
lab)
Natalie Wild (Tatsuno lab)
Special
thanks to Gerlinde Metz and Keiko McCreary for wonderful organization of this
year SSS, to judges:Drs. G. Metz, D. Euston and R. Gibb who had very difficult
job this year due to high quality of presentations, and to our kind supporters:
endMS research network, Lethbridge Public Interest Research Group, Lethbridge
chapter of SfN, and CCBN.
Thank
you all!
Dr.
Artur Luczak
Symposium
Program
10:00 GENERAL WELCOME
10:10-10:40 —
MEMORY and THE HIPPOCAMPUS
Alexis
Demecha “Analysis of Immediate Early Gene Detection Methods in Hippocampal
Remapping Studies”
Tyler
Forster “Trajectory Selection in the Hippocampus”
Brody
Gordon “The Role of PKMζ in Precise Spatial Memory”
10:40-11:00
— DECISION MAKING
Jenn
VanOyen “Model-Based Reinforcement Learning Analysis of Decision-Making in
Rats”
Aleigha
Arksey “Prelimbic Involvement in Optimal Decision Making”
11:00-11:40 —
MOTOR CONTROL and REACHING
Lauren
A. Hall “Peripheral Vision Reaching Task
Differentiates Grasp From Reach Component”
Layne
A. Lenhart “Reaching and Grasping in
Gesture-type Hand Movements”
Kelly
Mills “Tracking the Co-development of
Language, Motor Development, and Executive Function in Children”
Brian
Ficiur “The Parallel Beam Task: A Sensitive
Test for Skilled Limb Use”
11:40-12:20 —
ADVERSITY and BRAIN FUNCTION
Lauren
Williams “The Effect of Developmental
Exposure to PCB-126 on American Mink Neocortex”
Janet
Poplawski “The Effects of
Perfluoroundecanoic Acid (PFUnA) on Brain Volume in Japanese Quail (Coturnix
japonica)”
Allonna
Harker “Preconception Paternal Stress Alters Neuronal Pathways in Developing
Offspring”
Brady
Lowry “Combined Effects of Prenatal Stress and Pubertal Exposure of THC on the
Behaviour of Adult Long Evans Rats”
12:20-13:00
—Lunch
13:00-14:00 —
NEW METHODS AND TECHNOLOGIES
Grace
Martin “The Importance of Placental
Imaging”
Sarah
Lohrenz “The Use of Western Blot in the
Analysis of Protein Expression”
LeAnna
Kalvi “The Effects of Transcranial
Direct Current Stimulation on Sleep Architecture”
Kyle
Giebelhaus “Methods and Technologies for
Designing Electrophysiology Hyperdrive Bases”
Scott
Wong “Assays in Optogenetics”
Natalie
Wild “Investigating Synaptic
Interactions with Computer Simulation”
Adam
Neumann “Jack of All Trades-
Investigating Plasticity Processes in the Brain”
14:00-14:15
—Short Break
14:15— AWARDS
AND CLOSING REMARKS
============================================================
Abstracts
MEMORY and THE
HIPPOCAMPUS
1.
Analysis of
Immediate Early Gene Detection Methods in Hippocampal Remapping Studies.
Alexis Demecha,
Wing Witharana, Michael Eckert, and Bruce McNaughton
Hippocampal
place cells encode an animal’s location in the environment. Previous
electrophysiology and immediate early gene (IEG) studies have shown that when
an animal moves from one environment
to another, the ensemble of active place cells change, a phenomenon known as
remapping. The current study examined the reliability of using IEGs and catFISH
detection methods to observe hippocampal remapping in CA1 and CA3. The results
illustrate that hippocampal remapping was not observed. Additionally,
variability in IEG detection of both alleles suggests that IEG activation may
not be a true indicator of cellular activity.
2.
Trajectory
Selection in the Hippocampus
Tyler Forster,
Aaron Wilber, Jessica Vos, Bruce McNaughton
Currently, it is
known that the hippocampus contains neuron with increased rates of activity in
a specific location of the rat’s environment, known as place cells.
Furthermore, these cells become activated during sharp wave ripple (SWR) events
while the rat is still. SWRs that occur prior to a rat’s movement are known as
“preplay,” and have recently been shown to predict novel paths toward a
familiar goal in an open environment. We present here our current work and
experimental setup for determining whether preplay predicts trajectories to be
taken or encodes relative location to a target.
3.
The Role of
PKMζ in Precise Spatial Memory
Brody Gordon,
Rob McDonald
The PKMζ
protein is hypothesized to be involved in the maintenance of long term memory.
As the role of PKMζ in hippocampal dependent memories is unclear, the present research
investigates the involvement of PKMζ in hippocampal dependent memory. We utilized a novel spatial radial arm maze
task that is demanding on the hippocampus. PKMζ expression can be inhibited by
ZIP, which causes the protein to function improperly, or by blocking
translation of the protein with siRNA.Following acquisition, either ZIP,
siRNA, or their inert controls were infused in both the dorsal and ventral
hippocampus and retention was then tested in the task.
DECISION-MAKING
4.
Model-Based
Reinforcement Learning Analysis of Decision-Making in Rats
Jenn VanOyen, Aaron Gruber
Decision-making
is a complex, multi-faceted process which includes internal variables that
influence a subject’s choice in a given set of circumstances. We developed a
MATLAB application that performs model-based reinforcement learning analysis to
tease out these internal aspects of decision-making. This application uses optimization algorithms
and mathematical learning models to predict individual parameters of each
subject, such as learning rate and switching propensity. We applied the
analysis to data from rats with dorsolateral and dorsomedial striatum lesions
doing a competitive matching pennies task and found that these regions appear
to be contributing to the computation of different decision-making variables.
5.
Prelimbic
Involvement in Optimal Decision Making
Aleigha Arksey,
Catherine Laskowski, David Euston
To
help people with impairments in decision making, such as problem gamblers, we
need a better understanding of how decision making works. The mPFC is
implicated in impulse control disorders; therefore during our rodent N-Arm
Bandit experiment, where varying levels of food reward and time-out punishment
change choice arm locations in the maze over time, we predicted that animals
with PL lesions will have difficulty adapting their behavior and will
perseverate on sub-optimal choice arms. Based on the preliminary results PL
lesioned animals take longer to adjust to the changing contingencies than
control animals as predicted.
MOTOR CONTROL
and REACHING
6.
Peripheral
Vision Reaching Task Differentiates Grasp From Reach Component
Lauren A. Hall,
Emilyne S. Jankunis, Jenni M. Karl, and Ian Q. Whishaw
The Dual Visuomotor Channel (DVM) theory suggests that reaching
for an object consists of two movements, a Reach and a Grasp. This
study tested the theory by having right-handed subjects reach for objects using
peripheral vision in which the subjects could learn about the object over repeated
trials while not directly viewing the object. Subjects displayed a
gradual development of a Grasp with practice whereas the accuracy of their
Reach did not improve. The finding supports the DVM
theory by demonstrating that the Reach and Grasp can be dissociated.
7.
Reaching and
Grasping in Gesture-type Hand Movements
Layne A.
Lenhart, Jenni M. Karl, and Ian Q. Whishaw
The Motor
Language Theory proposes that communication with hand gestures preceded verbal
language. The present study tested the
theory by asking whether natural reaching movements resemble the spontaneous
hand gestures that frequently accompany speech. Twelve participants were asked
to recall three construction tasks involving the movement of three objects
each. The results showed that when describing extrinsic, intrinsic, and both
intrinsic and extrinsic properties of an objects subjects used gestures that
mirrored the actual movements of reaching. The results confirm Motor Language
Theory by showing conservation between actual movements and language-related
description of movement.
8.
Tracking the
Co-development of Language, Motor Development, and Executive Function in
Children
Kelly Mills,
Claudia Gonzalez
As
children age, several areas of cognition rapidly develop. Three areas critical
to “everyday function” are language, motor behavior, and executive control.
Relationships between (1) language skill and handedness, and (2) gross motor
skill and executive functioning, have been demonstrated. We sought to determine
the degree of connection between all three developmental areas. Younger (5
& 6 years) and older (9 & 10 years) children completed a battery of
assessments related to these areas. Preliminary analysis suggests a significant
correlation between right hand use in motor tasks and behavioral regulation
components of executive function.
9.
The
Parallel Beam Task: A Sensitive Test for Skilled Limb Use
Brian
Ficiur, Jamshid Faraji, Gerlinde Metz
Skilled walking
provides a sensitive measure of motor function in animal models. Here we
developed a new parallel beam task to assess placement of both fore- and hind
limbs in rats. We hypothesized that through video recording and analysis, rats
with unilateral ischemic lesion of the motor cortex display limb placement
deficits. Rats (n=12) were trained to walk across two horizontal beams from a
start location to an end location. The ischemic lesion caused significant limb
placement deficits mainly contralateral to the lesion. Qualitative movement
analysis will be discussed. The findings suggest that the parallel beam task
task may be useful in assessing recovery of motor function after brain injury.
ADVERSITY and BRAIN
FUNCTION
10.
The
Effect of Developmental Exposure to PCB-126 on American Mink Neocortex
Lauren Williams, Danielle
Burger, Andrew Iwaniuk
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are highly toxic environmental
pollutants, but little is known about the effects of PCBs on the brain and
behaviour. Here, we tested whether developmental exposure to the most toxic of
these chemicals, PCB-126, affected neocortical volume and morphology in the
American Mink (Neovison vison). Our analyses indicate a significant
decrease in neocortical volume of male mink that were exposed to PCB-126 and a
similar trend in females. PCB-126 treated mink also had significantly smaller
white matter volumes than controls, but there was no clear effect on
neocortical folding.
11.
The Effects of
Perfluoroundecanoic Acid (PFUnA) on Brain Volume in Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica)
Janet Poplawski,
Danielle Burger, Karen Dean, Andrew Iwaniuk
Thyroxine
(T4) plays an important role in the development of the nervous system.
Perfluorinated acids (PFAs) are industrial chemicals in the environment that
disrupt T4 function and could negatively affect brain development, but this has
not been tested. In this study, fertilized Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) eggs
were injected with perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA) with one of three
environmentally relevant doses. We found no significant effect of dose on the
volumes of the cerebellum, optic tectum and telencephalon in hatchlings.
Although this suggests that the brain is resilient to the effects of PFUnA,
more detailed neuroanatomical studies are currently in progress.
12.
Preconception Paternal
Stress Alters Neuronal Pathways in Developing Offspring
Allonna Harker, Bryan
Kolb, Robbin Gibb
Much
is known regarding the effects of prenatal stress on developing offspring.
However, little investigation has been directed toward the effects of paternal
experience on the developing brain. Dendritic morphology and synaptic
connectivity of offspring were examined in five different brain areas (AID,
CA1, Cg3, PAR1, NAcc) on postnatal day 21 (P21). Analysis revealed significant
and diverse findings in cell morphology. Paternal stress offspring revealed
alterations in dendritic complexity, length and spine density that were both
sex-dependent and region-specific. These findings suggest that paternal stress
altered normal development of neuronal pathways in the developing brain.
13.
Combined
Effects of Prenatal Stress and Pubertal Exposure of THC on the Behaviour of
Adult Long Evans Rats
Brady Lowry, Robin Keeley, Robert
McDonald
Marijuana use is
increasing in adolescents, highlighting the need to understand the long-term
effects on the brain. Research so far has shown mixed effects, with no clear
pattern of outcome. Combined with other factors, however, THC could have an
effect. Therefore we chose to study the combined effects of prenatal stress and
pubertal THC exposure. We used the Morris water task, elevated plus maze and
discriminative fear conditioning to context to measure behavioural outcomes. In
our experiment, we saw no effect in the females but a small effect in the
males. The results of this study are important in contributing to our
understanding of THC and whether or not other factors combined with THC give a
significant effect.
NEW
METHODS and TECHNOLOGIES
14.
The Importance
of Placental Imaging
Grace Martin,
Sorina Truica, Albert Cross, Robbin Gibb
Many
pregnancies are complicated by placental abnormalities, which have significant
impacts on pre- and post-natal development. As the most important organ of
feto-maternal exchange, the placenta acts as a barrier and transporter for
nutrients and residues. Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is commonly studied in
relation to small and abnormal placentas. The effects of drugs and alcohol on
placental size and composition have been analyzed after parturition. However,
analysis of the placenta has rarely been studied in vivo. The intent of this work is to use MRI to study placental
transport and brain development as a function of drug or alcohol administration
in the antenatal period.
15.
The Use of
Western Blot in the Analysis of Protein Expression
Sarah Lohrenz,
Meili Liu, Gerlinde Metz
The study of neuroscience has rapidly evolved to include molecular
approaches, which allows for quantification of behavioural observations in test
subjects. One such method is western blot analysis: a rapid and sensitive
assay, which combines the resolution of gel electrophoresis and the principles
of immunological recognition of an antigen (the protein) by an appropriate antibody.
In a rat test subject exposed to stress, expression of proteins can be
quantified, allowing for effects at the genetic level to then be deduced.
Molecular testing gives researchers concrete data, unparalleled by behavioural
means. In combination, the two methods create a holistic body of data, and open
doors to progress and innovation in research.
16.
The Effects of
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Sleep Architecture
LeAnna Kalvi,
Michael Eckert, Masami Tatsuno
Recent evidence from human experiments
suggests that electrical stimulation during sleep has the potential to alter
endogenous brain activity and enhance performance on memory-related tasks. In this pilot study, weak transcranial direct
current stimulation (tDCS) was administered to two rats during SWS and REM
sleep in an attempt to modify sleep architecture. Preliminary analysis of sleep recordings
implies that although many aspects of sleep are robust, it is possible to alter
certain sleep features using tDCS. In
particular, results indicate it is easier to manipulate REM sleep than it is to
affect SWS via the application of a weak current.
17.
Methods
and Technologies for Designing Electrophysiology Hyperdrive Bases
Kyle Giebelhaus,
Aaron Gruber
Hyperdrives are multi-electrode arrays
used to record field potentials and single unit activity in the brains of
several vertebrate species, including the rats and mice used in
electrophysiological investigation at CCBN.
The Polaris Group predominantly uses the Matt Wilson hyperdrive, but
this design only targets one brain area at a time. In order to record from multiple areas – such
as the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) – the drive
base needs to be modified or redesigned.
This presentation outlines the process for using SolidWorks software to redesign a hyperdrive base to target
multiple areas of the brain.
18.
Assays in
Optogenetics
Scott Wong,
Aaron Gruber
Optogenetics
is a technique in neuroscience that utilizes light stimulation to affect neural
responses. After transfecting specific neuronal populations to express a
light-sensitive channelrhodopsin protein, direct light stimulation can then
influence neural responses on a millisecond timescale. The Gruber lab is
currently using optogenetics to study the role of dopamine in reward
processing. My work this summer has been related to developing assays to
measure the effectiveness of this stimulation. These include:
immunohistochemistry to determine the specificity and expression of channelrhodopsin
in cells; self-stimulation behavior by rats; and diolistic labeling to assess
spinal morphology changes in response to light stimulation.
19.
Investigating Synaptic Interactions with Computer
Simulation
Natalie Wild,
Karim Ali, Yimin Nie, Daniela Schwindel, Masami Tatsuno
Due to the
complexity of neural dynamics and the technical impossibility of recording from
all neurons, understanding how information is processed can be greatly
facilitated by modeling the nervous systems.
To investigate the neural mechanisms underlying the cross-correlation
data obtained by 25-hour multi-electrode recordings, we simulated a network of
1000 Hodgkin- Huxley neurons. Although
the comparison study is still in the initial phase, the simulation produced
similar cross correlation shapes as the experiments. Furthermore, the
simulation provided an insight into what rare category cross-correlations, such
as a bidirectional inhibitory-inhibitory interaction, may look like.
20.
Jack
of All Trades- Investigating Plasticity Processes in the Brain
Adam Neumann,
Andrea Gomez Palacio Schjetnan, Artur Luczak
Over
the past year of working in the Luczak Lab, I have had the opportunity to
participate in four different projects. The first project involved discovering
that amphetamine can be used to enhance the reactivation of neural activity
patterns. This was published in Neuron. Two other ongoing projects involve
looking at these patterns but in the context of optogenetics and VSD. Finally,
a project on trans-cranial direct current stimulation in stroke recovery.
Methods include; VSD, Optogenetics, Immunohistochemistry, Histochemistry,
Cluster Cutting, Electrode Manufacturing, Cell Counting, and Stroke Volume
Measuring. Although still ongoing, the analysis of the data from those projects
will provide more detailed picture of plasticity processes in the brain.