Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience最新文献

{"title":"Maternal benzo[a]pyrene exposure during critical gestational periods impairs offspring neurological development in rats: a mechanistic study of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.","authors":"Nan Zhang, Nan Bo, Yuanhao Wang, Wenlin Bai, Wen Sun, Zhenlin Zhao, Yuanbao Zhang, Yingying Zhang, Lijian Lei, Jianjun Zhou, Wenping Zhang","doi":"10.3389/fnbeh.2025.1571122","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2025.1571122","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Mid-gestation is a critical period for the development of the nervous system. Exposure to exogenous harmful chemicals during this period may lead to longterm neurological developmental abnormalities in offspring. Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) is a commonly occurring neurotoxic environmental pollutant that can pass through the placental barrier and blood-brain barrier (BBB), thereby affecting placental nerve development.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>To investigate the neurotoxic mechanism of B[a]P on offspring exposed in mid-gestation, pregnant rats were exposed to B[a]P (25 mg/kg) from gestation days 8 to 14. Meanwhile, as an agonist of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, lithium chloride (LiCl) was administered to observe the intervention effects.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results showed that in rats exposed to B[a]P in mid-gestation, the developmental nodes of the offspring were delayed, and the neurosensory sensitivity of the offspring was reduced. These offspring also had cognitive impairments in adulthood. Subsequent morphological and protein experiments showed that the exposed offspring had reduced neuronal complexity in the CA1 region of the hippocampus, decreased β-catenin expression, and increased GSK-3β expression in the hippocampal tissue. However, all these indexes can be reversed by LiCl.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>These results suggest that B[a]P exposed in mid-gestation pregnancy may lead to neurological damage in the offspring by downregulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.</p>","PeriodicalId":12368,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience","volume":"19 ","pages":"1571122"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12058798/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143995298","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prenatal methadone exposure produces functional and molecular alterations in the basolateral amygdala and decreased voluntary ethanol intake in female, but not male offspring.","authors":"Meredith E Gamble, Michelle Montero, Dana N Silberstein, Terrence Deak, Elena I Varlinskaya, Marvin R Diaz","doi":"10.3389/fnbeh.2025.1570951","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2025.1570951","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>A result of the ongoing opioid epidemic has been a significant rise in the rates of opioid use during pregnancy. This includes use of maintenance medications for opioid use disorder (MOUDs), such as methadone, which are the standard of care for pregnant people with an opioid use disorder (OUD). Although the use of MOUDs leads to better neonatal outcomes in exposed offspring compared to those born from individuals with untreated OUD, the pharmacology of MOUDs is similar to misused opioids. Despite the high prevalence of prenatal exposure to opioids, including MOUDs, our understanding of the long-term consequences of these exposures in offspring is limited. Prenatal drug exposure is known to be a risk factor for future substance use disorder and mood disorders, yet, how prenatal opioid exposure influences ethanol intake in adult offspring and associated affective behaviors has not been examined.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using a rat model of prenatal methadone exposure (PME), which included twice daily methadone injections from gestational day 3-20, this study assessed ethanol intake in adult offspring and how exposure to forced swim stress (FSS) altered ethanol intake, in addition to examination of depressive-like behavior during the FSS. Given the role of the basolateral amygdala (BLA) in emotion and reward processing, we also conducted patch clamp electrophysiology experiments from BLA neurons to investigate changes in synaptic transmission and gene expression of neuromodulatory systems that are known to influence emotion and reward processing.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Females with a history of PME consumed less ethanol than control females, with no effects of PME on ethanol intake evident in males. While PME increased immobility during FSS in both males and females, FSS had no effects on ethanol intake. PME increased glutamate transmission and altered dopamine D1, D2, and D3 receptor and mu opioid receptor mRNA in the BLA of females, but not in males.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Collectively, this study identified impairments in emotion and reward processing, in addition to alterations in synaptic function and gene expression in the BLA of females with a history of PME, supporting previous findings from our lab demonstrating that female offspring are more sensitive to the long-term effects of PME.</p>","PeriodicalId":12368,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience","volume":"19 ","pages":"1570951"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12037550/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144001746","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Manatee cognition and behavior: a neurobiological perspective on an unusual constellation of senses and a unique brain.","authors":"Peter F Cook, Gordon B Bauer, Roger L Reep","doi":"10.3389/fnbeh.2025.1576378","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2025.1576378","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The nervous systems of manatees are strikingly unique across multiple dimensions. Manatees have the largest lissencephalic (smooth) brains in the animal kingdom, and demonstrate unusual somatosensory anatomy and physiology in the peripheral and central nervous system. As a rare aquatic herbivore sharing ancestry with modern elephants, manatee evolutionary history and behavioral ecology diverges substantially from that of other marine mammal clades, and their nervous system has adapted to the specific challenges they face. Although they are difficult to access for controlled behavioral study, prior neurobiological work has provided insight into manatee cognition. Here we review the evidence on manatee peripheral and central nervous function and present novel preliminary post-mortem diffusion MRI findings on whole-brain patterns of connectivity. Compared to another marine mammal, the California sea lion, manatee brains show apparently reduced corticocortical complexity. This may help explain their lissencephaly and relate to hypothesized reduced radial glial cell activity during neurodevelopment. Despite this apparently \"simple\" brain, manatees in the wild show some cognitively sophisticated behaviors, particularly in the realm of navigation. Future work in manatees should examine local and global brain connectivity related to spatial navigation and other complex cognitive capabilities.</p>","PeriodicalId":12368,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience","volume":"19 ","pages":"1576378"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12021893/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143970884","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The role of dorsal raphe nucleus neuropeptides in reward and aversion.","authors":"Kathryn Braden, Daniel C Castro","doi":"10.3389/fnbeh.2025.1553470","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2025.1553470","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The dorsal raphe nucleus is a critical node for affective and motivated circuits in the brain. Though typically known as a serotonergic hub, the dorsal raphe nucleus is also highly enriched in a variety of neuropeptides. Recent advances in biotechnology and behavioral modeling have led to a resurgence in neuropeptide research, allowing investigators to target unique peptide systems with unprecedented clarity. Here, we review and discuss multiple neuropeptide systems in dorsal raphe and consider how their activity may contribute to reward and aversion. While this is not an exhaustive review, this short overview will highlight the many opportunities available to refine our understanding of multiple dorsal raphe neuropeptides. By more thoroughly studying dorsal raphe neuropeptides, we will reveal novel pathways to design more effective therapeutics and tailor treatments for millions of patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":12368,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience","volume":"19 ","pages":"1553470"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12014661/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143974788","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Current limitations in technology-based cognitive assessment for severe mental illnesses: a focus on feasibility, reliability, and ecological validity.","authors":"Edoardo Caporusso, Antonio Melillo, Andrea Perrottelli, Luigi Giuliani, Francesco Flavio Marzocchi, Pasquale Pezzella, Giulia Maria Giordano","doi":"10.3389/fnbeh.2025.1543005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2025.1543005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cognitive impairments are frequently observed in subjects with severe mental illnesses (SMI), leading to a remarkable impact in their real-world functioning. Well-validated and gold standard instruments are available for the assessment of cognitive deficits, but different limitations should be considered, such as the need for specific training, lengthy administration times, practice effects, or reliance on subjective reports. Recent advances in digital technologies, such as ecological momentary assessments (EMA), virtual reality (VR), and passive digital phenotyping (DP), offer promising complementary approaches for capturing real-world cognitive functioning. In the current mini-review, we examine current research gaps that limit the application of these technologies, with a specific focus on feasibility, reliability and ecological validity. EMA may capture real-world functioning by increasing the number of evaluations throughout the day, but its use might be hindered by high participant burden and missing data. Furthermore, to achieve an accurate interpretation of EMA, studies should account for sampling and moment selection biases and the presence of several confounding factors. DP faces significant ethical and logistical challenges, including privacy and informed consent concerns, as well as challenges in data interpretation. VR could serve as a platform for both more ecologically valid cognitive assessments and rehabilitation interventions, but current barriers include technological and psychometric limitations, underdeveloped theoretical frameworks, and ethical considerations. Addressing these issues is crucial for ensuring that these novel technologies can effectively serve as valuable complements to traditional neuropsychological cognitive batteries.</p>","PeriodicalId":12368,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience","volume":"19 ","pages":"1543005"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12009854/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143992745","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Implication of explicit knowledge and subjective evaluation in procedural perceptual-motor learning.","authors":"Sarah Seiwert, Elodie Martin, Yannick Lagarrigue, David Amarantini, Lilian Fautrelle, Joseph Tisseyre, Jessica Tallet","doi":"10.3389/fnbeh.2025.1567905","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2025.1567905","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Procedural Perceptual-Motor Learning (PPML) enables the acquisition of new motor procedures and is fundamental for a wide range of human behaviors. While traditional research has focused on task-related characteristics, there is growing interest in individual factors to account for inter-individual differences in PPML. This study aims to investigate the roles of two individual factors related to learners' strategies and mindsets: (a) explicit knowledge of the task's characteristics and regularities and (b) subjective evaluation of the task and performance. We hypothesized that (a) participants reporting explicit knowledge of the task would exhibit higher PPML scores compared to those who did not, and (b) PPML scores would be related to subjective evaluation.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Participants were invited to practice two types of PPML tasks: motor sequence learning assessed by a Serial Reaction Time Task (SRTT) (Experiment 1) and visuomotor adaptation assessed by a Target Jumping Task (TJT) (Experiment 2). After each task, they were asked to answer post-learning questions about (a) their explicit knowledge of the task's rules and (b) their subjective evaluations, including perceived levels of stress, tiredness, motivation, attention, and perceived progress.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The findings of Experiment 1 revealed that participants reporting explicit knowledge of the SRTT exhibited higher learning scores, which were related to perceived stress and progress. In Experiment 2, participants reporting explicit knowledge of the TJT exhibited lower learning scores, which were related to perceived stress, tiredness, concentration, and progress.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>This study offers a novel and comprehensive perspective on inter-individual differences in PPML by considering the roles of explicit knowledge and subjective evaluations in two types of PPML tasks. Although further replication and generalization are necessary, the findings provide valuable insights into how learner-task interactions may explain inter-individual differences and highlight the importance of considering participants' subjective reports research for future studies on PPML.</p>","PeriodicalId":12368,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience","volume":"19 ","pages":"1567905"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12006979/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143980974","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Validating an updated protocol for the novel object recognition task in young pigs.","authors":"Rebecca K Golden, Ryan N Dilger","doi":"10.3389/fnbeh.2025.1480389","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2025.1480389","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The objective of this study was to validate equipment and procedures involved in implementing the novel object recognition (NOR) paradigm with young pigs. Two experiments were run with the intent of determining improvements to the original, high-throughput NOR paradigm design. The focus of these experiments was the impact of confounding factors on the main cognitive outcome, recognition index (RI). Experiment 1 utilized 13 pigs that all performed the NOR task following the original paradigm with the addition of 2 extra testing days. Results from this experiment indicated that one test day is sufficient for producing RI values that differ (<i>p</i> < 0.05) from chance performance, which was set at 0.50 given the use of two objects. Results also indicated that pigs may habituate to the task itself after 1 day of testing as RI values were not different (<i>p</i> > 0.05) from that of chance on test days 2 or 3. Experiment 2 utilized 13 male and 16 female pigs to determine sex differences in paradigm outcomes in addition to introducing home-cage enrichment. Results indicated sex differences in investigative behaviors despite both sexes producing RI values different from that of chance. The impact of home-cage enrichment was less discernable, but evidence suggests a lack of influence. Overall, the modifications to the NOR paradigm described herein reduced variability in the primary outcome, RI, and thereby improved sensitivity of the behavioral assay compared with the original paradigm.</p>","PeriodicalId":12368,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience","volume":"19 ","pages":"1480389"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11994583/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143974800","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Editorial: Reinforcement feedback in motor learning: neural underpinnings of skill refinement.","authors":"Christopher M Hill, Vincent Koppelmans, Mario Manto","doi":"10.3389/fnbeh.2025.1589738","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2025.1589738","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12368,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience","volume":"19 ","pages":"1589738"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11994603/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143974288","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Editorial: Neural correlates of visual learning and object representation in inferior temporal lobe.","authors":"Mark A G Eldridge, Yasuko Sugase-Miyamoto","doi":"10.3389/fnbeh.2025.1584584","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fnbeh.2025.1584584","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12368,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience","volume":"19 ","pages":"1584584"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11975662/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143810891","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Drugs of abuse drive neurotransmitter plasticity that alters behavior: implications for mental health.","authors":"Marta Pratelli, Nicholas C Spitzer","doi":"10.3389/fnbeh.2025.1551213","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fnbeh.2025.1551213","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Neurotransmission is a complex process with multiple levels of regulation that, when altered, can significantly impact mental health. Neurons in the adult brain can release more than one transmitter and environmental stimuli can change the type of transmitter neurons express. Changes in the transmitter neurons express can generate changes in animal behavior. The ability of neurons to express multiple transmitters and/or switch them in response to environmental stimuli likely evolved to provide flexibility and complexity to neuronal circuit function in an ever-changing environment. However, this adaptability can become maladaptive when generating behavioral alterations that are unfit for the environment in which the animal lives or the tasks it needs to perform. Repeated exposure to addictive substances induces long-lasting molecular and synaptic changes, driving the appearance of maladaptive behaviors that can result in drug misuse and addiction. Recent findings have shown that one way drugs of abuse alter the brain is by inducing changes in the transmitter neurons express. Here, we review evidence of prolonged exposure to addictive substances inducing changes in the number of neurons expressing the neuropeptide orexin, the neuromodulator dopamine, and the inhibitory transmitter GABA. These findings show that drug-induced transmitter plasticity is conserved across species, that addictive substances belonging to different classes of chemicals can induce the same type of plasticity, and that exposure to only one drug can cause different neuronal types to change the transmitter they express. Importantly, drug-induced transmitter plasticity contributes to the long-term negative effects of drug consumption, and it can, in some cases, be either prevented or reversed to alleviate these outcomes. Regional neuronal hyperactivity appears to modulate the appearance and stabilization of drug-induced changes in transmitter expression, which are no longer observed when activity is normalized. Overall, these findings underscore the importance of continuing to investigate the extent and behavioral significance of drug-induced neurotransmitter plasticity and exploring whether non-invasive strategies can be used to reverse it as a means to mitigate the maladaptive effects of drug use.</p>","PeriodicalId":12368,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience","volume":"19 ","pages":"1551213"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11962007/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143771918","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}