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Tanaka, K. F.

Publications and source records attributed to Tanaka, K. F..

16 recordsLinked to original sources

Descending locus coeruleus noradrenergic signaling to spinal astrocyte subset is required for stress-induced pain facilitation

It is known that stress powerfully alters pain, but its underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we identified a circuit, locus coeruleus descending noradrenergic neurons projecting to the spinal dorsal horn (LC[->]SDH-NA neurons), that is activated by acute exposure to restraint stress and is required for stress-induced mechanical pain hypersensitivity in mice. Interestingly, the primary target of spinal NA released from descending LC[->]SDH-NAergic terminals causing the stress-induced pain hypersensitivity was 1A-adrenaline receptors (1ARs) in Hes5-positive (Hes5+) astrocytes located in the SDH, an astrocyte subset that has an ability to induce pain sensitization. Furthermore, activation of Hes5+ astrocytes reduced activity of SDH-inhibitory neurons (SDH-INs) that have an inhibitory role in pain processing. This astrocytic reduction of IN activity was canceled by an A1-adenosine receptor (A1R)-knockdown in SDH-INs, and the A1R-knockdown suppressed pain hypersensitivity caused by acute restraint stress. Therefore, our findings suggest that LC[->]SDH-NA neuronal signaling to Hes5+ SDH astrocytes and subsequent astrocytic reduction of SDH-IN activity are essential for mechanical pain facilitation caused by stress.

neuroscience↗

Distinct classes of antidepressants commonly act to shape pallidal structure and function in mice

Antidepressants including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, ketamine, and psilocybin are all effective for treating depression despite their distinct primary mechanisms. We hypothesized that these drugs may share a common mechanism that underlies their therapeutic actions. We treated mice with one of the following: escitalopram, R-/S-/RS-ketamine, or psilocin. Additionally, groups exposed to electroconvulsive stimulation and a saline control were included. Following treatment, fixed brains underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging, and voxel-based morphometry was performed to evaluate brain-wide volumetric changes. Compared with control treatment, we observed greater volumes in the nucleus accumbens, ventral pallidum, and external globus pallidus across all antidepressant treatments, and a smaller volume in the mediodorsal thalamus. Specifically, R-ketamine, RS-ketamine, and psilocin induced more pronounced hypertrophy of the ventral pallidum, whereas selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and S-ketamine predominantly increased the volume of the external globus pallidus. Further analyses using super-resolution microscopy and imaging mass spectrometry revealed corresponding microstructural and molecular changes. Greater pallidal volume was associated with striatal medium spiny neuron terminal hypertrophy and elevated {gamma}-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels. Interestingly, all antidepressants were also associated with higher striatal dopamine content. Moreover, striatal vesicular GABA transporter overexpression reproduced the medium spiny neuron terminal hypertrophy and increased pallidal GABA content, and was associated with a reduction in innate anxiety. These findings indicate that despite their pharmacological diversity, antidepressant treatments lead to shared pallidum-centered structural and molecular changes. We propose that these shared changes may potentiate the striato-pallidal inhibitory circuit, thereby contributing to the overall antidepressant effect.

neuroscience↗

The differential effect of optogenetic serotonergic manipulation on sustained motor actions and stationary waiting for future rewards in mice

Serotonin is an essential neuromodulator that affects behavioral and cognitive functions. Previous studies have shown that activation of serotonergic neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) promotes patience to wait for future rewards. However, it is still unclear whether serotonergic neurons also regulate persistence to act for future rewards. Here we used optogenetic activation and inhibition of DRN serotonergic neurons to examine their effects on sustained motor actions for future rewards. We trained mice to perform stationary waiting and repeated lever-pressing tasks with variable reward delays and tested effects of optogenetic activation and inhibition of DRN serotonergic neurons on task performance. Interestingly, in the lever-pressing task, mice tolerated longer delays as they repeatedly pressed a lever than in the stationary waiting task, suggesting that lever-pressing actions may not simply be costly, but may also be subjectively rewarding. Optogenetic activation of DRN serotonergic neurons prolonged waiting in the stationary waiting task, consistent with previous studies, but it did not affect lever pressing time or numbers. While optogenetic inhibition decreased waiting, it did not affect lever pressing time or numbers. In generalized linear model analysis that incorporated the time during each session and the number of sessions, however, optogenetic activation negatively affected the number and the speed of lever pressing. These results revealed that the necessity of motor actions may increase motivation for delayed rewards and that DRN serotonergic neurons more significantly promote stationary waiting rather than persistent motor actions for future rewards.

animal behavior and cognition↗

A Reinforcement Learning Model with Choice Traces for a Progressive Ratio Schedule

The progressive ratio (PR) lever-press task serves as a benchmark for assessing goal-oriented motivation. However, a well-recognized limitation of the PR task is that only a single data point, known as the breakpoint, is obtained from an entire session as a barometer of motivation. Because the breakpoint is defined as the final ratio of responses achieved in a PR session, variations in choice behavior during the PR task cannot be captured. We addressed this limitation by constructing four reinforcement learning models: a Simple Q- learning model, an Asymmetric model with two learning rates, a Perseverance model with choice traces, and a Perseverance model without learning. These models incorporated three behavioral choices: reinforced and non-reinforced lever presses and void magazine nosepokes (MNPs), because we noticed that mice performed frequent MNPs during PR tasks. The best model was the Perseverance model, which predicted a gradual reduction in amplitudes of reward prediction errors (RPEs) upon void MNPs. We confirmed the prediction experimentally with fiber photometry of extracellular dopamine (DA) dynamics in the ventral striatum of mice using a fluorescent protein (genetically encoded GPCR activation-based DA sensor: GRABDA2m). We verified application of the model by acute intraperitoneal injection of low-dose methamphetamine (METH) before a PR task, which increased the frequency of MNPs during the PR session without changing the breakpoint. The Perseverance model captured behavioral modulation as a result of increased initial action values, which are customarily set to zero and disregarded in reinforcement learning analysis. Our findings suggest that the Perseverance model reveals effects of psychoactive drugs on choice behaviors during PR tasks.

neuroscience↗

Dopamine receptor type 2-expressing medium spiny neurons in the ventral lateral striatum have a non-REM sleep-induce function

Dopamine receptor type 2-expressing medium spiny neurons (D2-MSNs) in the medial part of the ventral striatum (VS) induce non-REM (NREM) sleep from the wake state in animals. However, it is unclear whether D2-MSNs in the lateral part of the VS (VLS), which is anatomically and functionally different from the medial part of the VS, contribute to sleep-wake regulation. This study aims to clarify whether and how D2- MSNs in the VLS are involved in sleep-wake regulation. Our study found that specifically removing D2-MSNs in the VLS led to an increase in wakefulness time in mice during the dark phase using a diphtheria toxin-mediated cell ablation/dysfunction technique. D2-MSN ablation throughout the VS increased dark phase wakefulness time. These findings suggest that VLS D2-MSNs may induce sleep during the dark phase with the medial part of the VS. Next, our fiber photometric recordings revealed that the population intracellular calcium (Ca2+) signal in the VLS D2-MSNs increased during the transition from wake to NREM sleep. The mean Ca2+ signal level of VLS D2-MSNs was higher during NREM and REM sleep than during the wake state, supporting their sleep-inducing role. Finally, optogenetic activation of the VLS D2-MSNs during the wake state always induced NREM sleep, demonstrating the causality of VLS D2-MSNs activity with sleep-induction. Additionally, activation of the VLS D1-MSNs, counterparts of D2-MSNs, always induced wake from NREM sleep, indicating a wake- promoting role. In conclusion, VLS D2-MSNs could have an NREM sleep-inducing function in coordination with those in the medial VS. Significant statementThe sleep-inducing function of D2-MSNs in the medial part of the ventral striatum (VS) has been previously reported; however, their function in the lateral part of the VS (VLS) has not been elucidated. We demonstrated that the diphtheria toxin-induced ablation of D2-MSNs in the VLS, as well as in the entire VS, increased wakefulness time in mice during the dark phase. VLS D2-MSNs had higher average Ca2+ signals during NREM and REM sleep than wake state via fiber photometric recording. Furthermore, optogenetic activation of VLS D2-MSNs during wake state induced NREM sleep in mice. In conclusion, D2-MSNs in the VLS have an NREM sleep-inducing function in coordination with those in the medial VS.

neuroscience↗

Optogenetic activation of dorsal raphe serotonin neurons induces a brain-wide response in reward network

Serotonin is a neuromodulator that affects multiple behavioral and cognitive functions. Nonetheless, how serotonin causes such a variety of effects via brain-wide projections and various receptors remains unclear. Here we measured brain-wide responses to optogenetic stimulation of serotonin neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) of the male mouse brain using functional MRI with an 11.7T scanner and a cryoprobe. Transient activation of DRN serotonin neurons caused brain-wide activation, including the medial prefrontal cortex, the striatum, and the ventral tegmental area. The same stimulation under anesthesia with isoflurane decreased brain-wide activation, including the hippocampal complex. These brain-wide response patterns can be explained by DRN serotonergic projection topography and serotonin receptor expression profiles, with enhanced weights on 5-HT1 receptors. Together, these results provide insight into the DR serotonergic system, which is consistent with recent discoveries of its functions in adaptive behaviors.

neuroscience↗

The oxytocin system regulates tearing

Tears are an exocrine physiological fluid secreted onto the ocular surface from the lacrimal apparatus in all mammals. Limited research has been conducted on the functional neuronal circuitry of tear production. In particular, the neuronal mechanisms of emotional tearing, which is a physiological reaction harmonized with enhanced emotional arousal and assumed to be unique to humans, remain unclear. We identified that the oxytocin neurons in the paraventricular hypothalamus is functionally projected to the oxytocin receptor-expressing neurons in the lacrimation center of the superior salivatory nucleus. Optogenetic activation or inhibition of these neurons and/or receptors can modulate the superior salivatory nucleus dependent tear secretion mediated through oxytocin. Moreover, we identified that maternal behavior, nociceptive behavior stimulation, and aversive memory retrieval are linked to tearing in mice, and that these emotional linked tearing are suppressed by optogenetic inhibition of the corresponding oxytocin system. Thus, tearing could be regulated through functional connections between central oxytocin systems in the paraventricular hypothalamus and the superior salivatory nucleus.

animal behavior and cognition↗

Oscillatory population-level activity of dorsal raphe serotonergic neurons sculpts sleep structure

Dorsal raphe (DR) 5-HT neurons are involved in regulating sleep-wake transitions. Previous studies demonstrated that single-unit activity of DR 5-HT neurons is high during wakefulness, decreases during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, and ceases during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. However, characteristics of the population-level activity of DR 5-HT neurons, which can influence the entire brain, are largely unknown. Here we measured population activities of 5-HT neurons in male and female mouse DR across the sleep-wake cycle by a ratiometric fiber photometry system. We found a slow oscillatory activity of compound intracellular Ca2+ signals during NREM sleep. The trough of concave 5-HT activity increased along with sleep progression, but the 5-HT activity level always returned to that seen in wake periods. When the trough reached the minimum level and remained there, REM sleep initiated. We also found a unique coupling of the oscillatory 5-HT activity and EEG power fluctuation, suggesting that EEG fluctuation is a proxy for 5-HT activity. Optogenetic activation of 5-HT neurons during NREM sleep triggered a high EMG power and induced wakefulness. Optogenetic inhibition induced REM sleep or sustained NREM with an EEG power increase and EEG fluctuation. These manipulations demonstrated a causal role of DR 5-HT neurons in sculpting sleep-wake structure. We also observed EEG fluctuations in human males during NREM sleep, implicating the existence of 5- HT oscillatory activity in humans. We propose that NREM sleep is not a monotonous state, but that it is dynamically regulated by the oscillatory population activity of DR 5- HT neurons. Significant statementPrevious studies have demonstrated single-cell 5-HT neuronal activity across sleep- wake conditions; however, population-level activities of these neurons are largely unknown. We monitored dorsal raphe (DR) 5-HT population activity using a fiber photometry system in mice and demonstrated that activity was highest during wakefulness, and lowest during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Surprisingly, during non-REM (NREM) sleep, the 5-HT population activity decreased with an oscillatory pattern, coinciding with EEG fluctuations. We examined the causal role of these 5-HT neuron activities by optogenetics and found that DR 5-HT neurons sculpted sleep-wake conditions by influencing EEG and EMG patterns. We found similar EEG fluctuations in a human sleep EEG study, suggesting the presence of oscillatory 5-HT neuron activity during NREM across species.

neuroscience↗

The dopamine dip amplitude is a quantitative measure of disappointment

The greater the reward expectations are, the more different the brains physiological response will be. Although it is well-documented that better-than-expected outcomes are encoded quantitatively via midbrain dopaminergic (DA) activity, it has been less addressed experimentally whether worse-than-expected outcomes are expressed quantitatively as well. We show that larger reward expectations upon unexpected reward omissions are associated with the preceding slower rise and following larger decrease (DA dip) in the DA concentration at the ventral striatum of mice. We set up a lever press task on a fixed ratio (FR) schedule requiring five lever presses as an effort for a food reward (FR5). The mice occasionally checked the food magazine without a reward before completing the task. The percentage of this premature magazine entry (PME) increased as the number of lever presses approached five, showing rising expectations with increasing proximity to task completion, and hence greater reward expectations. Fiber photometry of extracellular DA dynamics in the ventral striatum using a fluorescent protein (genetically encoded GPCR-activation-based-DA sensor: GRABDA2m) revealed that the slow increase and fast decrease in DA levels around PMEs were correlated with the PME percentage, demonstrating a monotonic relationship between the DA dip amplitude and degree of expectations. Computational modeling of the lever press task implementing temporal difference errors and state transitions replicated the observed correlation between the PME frequency and DA dip amplitude in the FR5 task. Taken together, these findings indicate that the DA dip amplitude represents the degree of reward expectations monotonically, which may guide behavioral adjustment.

neuroscience↗

Region-specific and state-dependent astrocyte Ca2+ dynamics during the sleep-wake cycle in mice

Neural activity is diverse, and varies depending on brain regions and sleep/wakefulness states. However, whether astrocyte activity differs between sleep/wakefulness states, and whether there are differences in astrocyte activity among brain regions remain poorly understood. In this study, we recorded astrocyte intracellular calcium (Ca2+) concentrations of mice during sleep/wakefulness states in the cortex, hippocampus, hypothalamus, cerebellum, and pons using fiber photometry. For this purpose, male transgenic mice in which their astrocytes specifically express the genetically encoded ratiometric Ca2+ sensor YCnano50 were used. We demonstrated that Ca2+ levels in astrocytes significantly decrease during Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep and increase after the onset of wakefulness. In contrast, differences in Ca2+ levels during non-Rapid Eye Movement (NREM) sleep were observed among different brain regions, and no significant decrease was observed in the hypothalamus and pons. Further analyses focusing on the transition between sleep/wakefulness states and correlation analysis with episode duration of REM showed that Ca2+ dynamics differed among brain regions, suggesting the existence of several clusters. To quantify region-specific Ca2+ dynamics, principal component analysis was performed to uncover three clusters; i.e., the first comprised the cortex and hippocampus, the second comprised the cerebellum, and the third comprised the hypothalamus and pons. Our study demonstrated that astrocyte Ca2+ levels change substantially according to sleep/wakefulness states. These changes were generally consistent, unlike neural activity. However, we also clarified that Ca2+ dynamics varies depending on the brain region, implying that astrocytes may play various physiological roles in sleep. Significance statementSleep is an instinctive behavior of many organisms. In the previous five decades, the mechanism of the neural circuits controlling sleep/wakefulness states and the neural activities associated with sleep/wakefulness states in various brain regions have been elucidated. However, whether astrocytes, which are a type of glial cell, change their activity during different sleep/wakefulness states is poorly understood. Here, we demonstrated that dynamic changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentrations occur in the cortex, hippocampus, hypothalamus, cerebellum, and pons of genetically modified mice during natural sleep. Further analyses demonstrated that Ca2+ dynamics slightly differ among different brain regions, implying that the physiological roles of astrocytes in sleep/wakefulness might vary depending on the brain region.

neuroscience↗

Sustained ErbB activation causes demyelination and hypomyelination by driving necroptosis of mature oligodendrocytes and apoptosis of oligodendrocyte precursor cells

Oligodendrocytes are vulnerable to genetic and environmental insults and its injury leads to demyelinating diseases. The roles of ErbB receptors in maintaining the CNS myelin integrity are largely unknown. Here we overactivate ErbB receptors that mediate signaling of either neuregulin or EGF family growth factors and found their synergistic activation caused deleterious outcomes in white matter. Sustained ErbB activation induced by the tetracycline-dependent mouse tool Plp-tTA resulted in demyelination, axonal degeneration, oligodendrocyte precursor cell (OPC) proliferation, astrogliosis, and microgliosis in white matter. Moreover, there was hypermyelination prior to these inflammatory pathological events. In contrast, sustained ErbB activation induced by another tetracycline-dependent mouse tool Sox10+/rtTA caused hypomyelination in the corpus callosum and optic nerve, which appeared to be a developmental deficit and did not associate with OPC regeneration, astrogliosis, or microgliosis. By tracing the differentiation states of cells expressing tTA/rtTA-dependent transgene or pulse-labeled reporter proteins in vitro and in vivo, we found that Plp-tTA targeted mainly mature oligodendrocytes (MOs), whereas Sox10+/rtTA targeted OPCs and newly-formed oligodendrocytes. The distinct phenotypes of mice with ErbB overactivation induced by Plp-tTA and Sox10+/rtTA consolidated their non-overlapping targeting preferences in the oligodendrocyte lineage, and enabled us to demonstrate that ErbB overactivation in MOs induced necroptosis that caused inflammatory demyelination, whereas in OPCs induced apoptosis that caused non-inflammatory hypomyelination. Early interference with aberrant ErbB activation ceased oligodendrocyte deaths and restored myelin development in both mice. This study suggests that aberrant ErbB activation is an upstream pathogenetic mechanism of demyelinating diseases, providing a potential therapeutic target. Significance statementPrimary oligodendropathy is one of the etiological mechanisms for multiple sclerosis, and oligodendrocyte necroptosis is a pathological hallmark in the disease. Moreover, the demyelinating disease is now a broad concept that embraces schizophrenia, in which white matter lesions are an emerging feature. ErbB overactivation has been implicated in schizophrenia by genetic analysis and postmortem studies. This study suggests the etiological implications of ErbB overactivation in myelin pathogenesis and elucidates the pathogenetic mechanisms.

neuroscience↗

A gradual backward shift of dopamine responses during associative learning

It has been proposed that the activity of dopamine neurons approximates temporal difference (TD) prediction error, a teaching signal developed in reinforcement learning, a field of machine learning. However, whether this similarity holds true during learning remains elusive. In particular, some TD learning models predict that the error signal gradually shifts backward in time from reward delivery to a reward-predictive cue, but previous experiments failed to observe such a gradual shift in dopamine activity. Here we demonstrate conditions in which such a shift can be detected experimentally. These shared dynamics of TD error and dopamine activity narrow the gap between machine learning theory and biological brains, tightening a long-sought link.

neuroscience↗

ErbB dysregulation impairs cognition via myelination-dependent and -independent oligodendropathy

White matter abnormalities are an emerging pathological feature of schizophrenia. However, their attributions to the disease remain largely elusive. ErbB receptors and their ligands, some of which are essential for peripheral myelination, confer susceptibility to schizophrenia. By synergistically manipulating ErbB receptor activities in a oligodendrocyte-stage-specific manner in mice after early development, we demonstrate the distinct effects of ErbB signaling on oligodendrocytes at various differentiation states. ErbB overactivation, in mature oligodendrocytes, induces necroptosis causing demyelination, whereas in oligodendrocyte precursor cells, induces apoptosis causing hypomyelination. In contrast, ErbB inhibition increases oligodendrocyte precursor cell proliferation but induces hypomyelination by suppressing the myelinating capabilities of newly-formed oligodendrocytes. Remarkably, ErbB inhibition in mature oligodendrocytes diminishes axonal conduction under energy stress and impairs working memory capacity independently of myelin pathology. This study reveals the etiological implications of oligodendrocyte vulnerability induced by ErbB dysregulation, and elucidates the pathogenetic mechanisms for variable structural and functional white matter abnormalities.

neuroscience↗

Starburst amacrine cells amplify optogenetic visual restoration through gap junctions in the murine retina

Ectopic induction of optogenetic actuators, such as channelrhodopsin, is a promising approach to restoring vision in the degenerating retina. However, the cell type-specific response of ectopic photoreception has not been well understood. It is limited to obtain efficient gene expression in a specifically targeted cell population by a transgenic approach. In the present study, we established a murine model with high efficiency of gene induction to retinal ganglion cells (RGCs)- and amacrine cells using an improved tetracycline transactivator-operator bipartite system (KENGE-tet system). To investigate the cell type-specific visual restorative effect, we expressed the channelrhodopsin gene into RGCs and amacrine cells using the KENGE-tet system. As a result, enhancement in the visual restorative effect was observed to RGCs and starburst amacrine cells. In conclusion, a photoresponse from amacrine cells may enhance the maintained response of RGCs and further increase/improve the visual restorative effect.

neuroscience↗

Varying perivascular astroglial endfoot dimensions along the vascular tree maintain perivascular-interstitial flux through the cortical mantle

The glymphatic system is a recently defined brain-wide network of perivascular spaces along which cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and interstitial solutes exchange. Astrocyte endfeet encircling the perivascular space form a physical barrier in between these two compartments, and fluid and solutes that are not taken up by astrocytes move out of the perivascular space through the junctions in between astrocyte endfeet. However, little is known about the anatomical structure and the physiological roles of the astrocyte endfeet in regulating the local perivascular exchange. Here, visualizing astrocyte endfoot-endfoot junctions with immunofluorescent labeling against the protein megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts-1 (MLC1), we characterized endfoot dimensions along the mouse cerebrovascular tree. We observed marked heterogeneity in endfoot dimensions along vessels of different sizes, and of different types. Specifically, endfoot size was positively correlated with the vessel diameters, with large vessel segments surrounded by large endfeet and small vessel segments surrounded by small endfeet. This association was most pronounced along arterial, rather than venous segments. Computational modeling simulating vascular trees with uniform or varying endfeet dimensions demonstrates that varying endfoot dimensions maintain near constant perivascular-interstitial flux despite correspondingly declining perivascular pressures along the cerebrovascular tree through the cortical depth. These results describe a novel anatomical feature of perivascular astroglial endfeet and suggest that endfoot heterogeneity may be an evolutionary adaptation to maintain perivascular CSF-interstitial fluid exchange through deep brain structures.

neuroscience↗

Flexible annotation atlas of the mouse brain: combining and dividing brain structures of the Allen Brain Atlas while maintaining anatomical hierarchy

A brain atlas is necessary for analyzing structure and function in neuroimaging research. Although various annotation volumes (AVs) for the mouse brain have been proposed, it is common in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the mouse brain that regions-of-interest (ROIs) for brain structures (nodes) are created arbitrarily according to each researchers necessity, leading to inconsistent ROIs among studies. One reason for such a situation is the fact that earlier AVs were fixed, i.e. combination and division of nodes were not implemented. This report presents a pipeline for constructing a flexible annotation atlas (FAA) of the mouse brain by leveraging public resources of the Allen Institute for Brain Science on brain structure, gene expression, and axonal projection. A mere two-step procedure with user-specified, text-based information and Python codes constructs FAA with nodes which can be combined or divided objectively while maintaining anatomical hierarchy of brain structures. Four FAAs with total node count of 4, 101, 866, and 1,381 were demonstrated. Unique characteristics of FAA realized analysis of resting-state functional connectivity (FC) across the anatomical hierarchy and among cortical layers, which were thin but large brain structures. FAA can improve the consistency of whole brain ROI definition among laboratories by fulfilling various requests from researchers with its flexibility and reproducibility. Highlights- A flexible annotation atlas (FAA) for the mouse brain is proposed. - FAA is expected to improve whole brain ROI-definition consistency among laboratories. - The ROI can be combined or divided objectively while maintaining anatomical hierarchy. - FAA realizes functional connectivity analysis across the anatomical hierarchy. - Codes for FAA reconstruction is available at https://github.com/ntakata/flexible-annotation-atlas - Datasets for resting-state fMRI in awake mice are available at https://openneuro.org/datasets/ds002551

neuroscience↗