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Henneken, P.

Publications and source records attributed to Henneken, P..

2 recordsLinked to original sources
bioRxiv2026

Virtual reality headset geometry constrains dorsolateral prefrontal cortex targeting with transcranial magnetic stimulation

BackgroundThe integration of virtual reality (VR) and non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS), particularly transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), represents a promising approach for closed-loop neuromodulation. Yet the concurrent application remains limited, partly due to insufficient characterization of hardware compatibility of head-mounted displays with standard TMS coil placement protocols. ObjectiveTo systematically quantify the coil-to-scalp distance constraints imposed by VR headsets across cortical targets and coil orientations and to determine feasible intensity compensation ranges based on stimulator output parameters. MethodsNeuronavigated coil positioning was performed on five anatomically realistic 3D-printed head models across 26 scalp positions in eight coil orientations based on the 10-10 EEG system and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) using two VR headsets of notably different form factors (Meta Quest 2 and Bigscreen Beyond). The deviations of coil positions from intended targets were registered and quantified as coil-to-scalp distance displacement. Individual electric field (E-field) simulations were conducted in SimNIBS at the F3 position across 4-40 mm coil-to-scalp distance to characterize field decay and assess the limits of intensity compensation. ResultsBoth in the directed DLPFC targeting and in systematic scalp positions evaluation, the Meta Quest 2 headset substantially increased coil-to-scalp distance over prefrontal regions, exceeding the compensable range across all metrics. The Bigscreen Beyond headset produced significantly smaller coil-to-scalp distance displacement in prefrontal regions, remaining within feasible E-field intensity compensation limits. Single-pulse and iTBS protocols did not induce functional interference with the hardware under realistic targeting conditions. ConclusionVR headset geometry is the primary determinant of concurrent VR-TMS feasibility. The findings define practical quantitative hardware design requirements and boundaries for future integrated VR-TMS systems and provide a practical framework for optimizing existing VR-TMS protocols.

neuroscience↗
bioRxiv2024

A ternary Neurexin-T178-PTPR complex represents a core-module of neuronal synapse organization

The organization of cell-cell contacts is fundamental for multi-cellular life and operation of organs. Synapses, prototypic contact sites for neuronal communication, are key to brain function and work over the last decades identified multiple synaptic cell adhesion molecules (sCAMs) that drive their organization. Whether these sCAMs operate independently or in coordination through yet unknown linker proteins remained elusive. Here, we used a systematic large-scale multi-epitope affinity-purification approach combined with quantitative mass spectrometry and immuno-EM to comprehensively map trans-synaptic protein networks in the mouse brain. We discover a presynaptic core-module assembled from the two major sCAM families, Neurexins1-3 and LAR-type receptor protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPRD,S,F), and the previously uncharacterized tetraspanin proteins T178A, B. These ternary Neurexin-T178-PTPR complexes form through their trans-membrane domains and assemble during biogenesis in the ER. Loss of T178B results in module dissociation, strong reduction of LAR-PTPRs and re-distribution of synaptic Neurexins. At synapses, the Neurexin-T178-PTPR module recruits stable and extended trans-synaptic protein networks with defined pre- and post-synaptic partners and secreted extracellular linkers. The network architecture robustly interlinks the distinct functional modules/machineries of the presynaptic active zone and establishes tight associations with XKR-type lipid scramblases and postsynaptic GABAergic and glutamatergic neurotransmitter receptors. Our data identify a universal presynaptic core-module for synaptic adhesion and trans-synaptic signaling in the mammalian brain.

neuroscience↗