A large body of research exploring neuronal network dynamics during behavior focuses on excitatory projection neurons which are thought to encode and decode ethologically significant events. On the other hand, population activity of these neurons is known to be tightly regulated by GABAergic interneurons, which give rise to dense local axonal outputs. Because of this divergent connectivity, interneurons are thought to play critical roles in the dynamic control of projection neurons ensembles in brain structures, including the cortex and striatum. Mirroring their key roles in brain function, interneuronal dysfunction has been implicated in many neuropsychiatric conditions. As a result, interneurons have long attracted a lot of attention in cellular neuroscience. However, a hallmark of interneurons is their variety, with decades of research delineating discrete cell classes and their putative roles in brain function and disease. Taken together, a better understanding of the roles of specific interneuron populations is expected to increase our knowledge of brain functioning and to lead to new approaches to tackle neuropsychiatric diseases.
Until recently, progress in the field of inhibitory interneuron research has been limited by the difficulty to link structure and function, and by the scarcity of available data to define the granularity of interneuron types and classes. Moreover, genetic tools to target, record and manipulate discrete interneuron types in vivo have been lacking. Finally, interneurons have been viewed as carrying out rather constant functions, while recent data suggest that plasticity at their synaptic inputs or outputs might be involved in dynamic processes such as learning and memory. Recent technological advances in complementary fields including genetics, dynamic imaging of neural activities, transcriptomics and big data analysis has opened unprecedented venues towards answering key questions regarding interneuron functions and roles in pathogenic mechanisms.
This Research Topic focuses on GABAergic interneuron classification and their function and dysfunction in the brain. Providing a comprehensive overview on these timely issues, with a particular emphasis on neuropsychiatric conditions. We seek original research articles, forward thinking reviews, hypothesis and theory and opinion papers, perspectives, clinical trials (including protocols) and on specific topics, including:
1. Technological advances and their contributions to the study of interneurons
2. Novel understanding of interneurons in development
3. Novel understanding of synaptic plasticity at interneurons' inputs and outputs and their links with brains functions
4. Recent advances in the understanding of interneuronal dysfunction in disease (both in animal models and in clinical conditions)
5. Novel therapeutic tools targeting interneurons
6. Conceptual work (including philosophy of science) helping define the relevant granularity and system(s) of interneuronal classification.
A large body of research exploring neuronal network dynamics during behavior focuses on excitatory projection neurons which are thought to encode and decode ethologically significant events. On the other hand, population activity of these neurons is known to be tightly regulated by GABAergic interneurons, which give rise to dense local axonal outputs. Because of this divergent connectivity, interneurons are thought to play critical roles in the dynamic control of projection neurons ensembles in brain structures, including the cortex and striatum. Mirroring their key roles in brain function, interneuronal dysfunction has been implicated in many neuropsychiatric conditions. As a result, interneurons have long attracted a lot of attention in cellular neuroscience. However, a hallmark of interneurons is their variety, with decades of research delineating discrete cell classes and their putative roles in brain function and disease. Taken together, a better understanding of the roles of specific interneuron populations is expected to increase our knowledge of brain functioning and to lead to new approaches to tackle neuropsychiatric diseases.
Until recently, progress in the field of inhibitory interneuron research has been limited by the difficulty to link structure and function, and by the scarcity of available data to define the granularity of interneuron types and classes. Moreover, genetic tools to target, record and manipulate discrete interneuron types in vivo have been lacking. Finally, interneurons have been viewed as carrying out rather constant functions, while recent data suggest that plasticity at their synaptic inputs or outputs might be involved in dynamic processes such as learning and memory. Recent technological advances in complementary fields including genetics, dynamic imaging of neural activities, transcriptomics and big data analysis has opened unprecedented venues towards answering key questions regarding interneuron functions and roles in pathogenic mechanisms.
This Research Topic focuses on GABAergic interneuron classification and their function and dysfunction in the brain. Providing a comprehensive overview on these timely issues, with a particular emphasis on neuropsychiatric conditions. We seek original research articles, forward thinking reviews, hypothesis and theory and opinion papers, perspectives, clinical trials (including protocols) and on specific topics, including:
1. Technological advances and their contributions to the study of interneurons
2. Novel understanding of interneurons in development
3. Novel understanding of synaptic plasticity at interneurons' inputs and outputs and their links with brains functions
4. Recent advances in the understanding of interneuronal dysfunction in disease (both in animal models and in clinical conditions)
5. Novel therapeutic tools targeting interneurons
6. Conceptual work (including philosophy of science) helping define the relevant granularity and system(s) of interneuronal classification.
