Nosso cérebro é como 100 bilhões de minicomputadores todos funcionando sincronizados: mero acaso, fortuita necessidade ou design inteligente???

Cell
Article| Volume 175, ISSUE 3, P643-651.e14, October 18, 2018


Enhanced Dendritic Compartmentalization in Human Cortical Neurons

Lou Beaulieu-Laroche, Enrique H.S. Toloza, Marie-Sophie van der Goes, Matthew P. Frosch, Sydney S. Cash, Mark T. Harnett5

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2018.08.045

 

Source/Fonte: New Scientist

Highlights

• Direct electrical recordings to compare human and rat cortical dendrites
• Longer human dendrites exhibit increased electrical compartmentalization
• Reduced ion channel densities in human dendrites
• Compartmentalization alters the input-output properties of human neurons

Summary

The biophysical features of neurons shape information processing in the brain. Cortical neurons are larger in humans than in other species, but it is unclear how their size affects synaptic integration. Here, we perform direct electrical recordings from human dendrites and report enhanced electrical compartmentalization in layer 5 pyramidal neurons. Compared to rat dendrites, distal human dendrites provide limited excitation to the soma, even in the presence of dendritic spikes. Human somas also exhibit less bursting due to reduced recruitment of dendritic electrogenesis. Finally, we find that decreased ion channel densities result in higher input resistance and underlie the lower coupling of human dendrites. We conclude that the increased length of human neurons alters their input-output properties, which will impact cortical computation.

FREE PDF GRATIS: Cell