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Prefrontal Inhibitory Signaling in the Control of Social Behaviors
Published in Tian-Le Xu, Long-Jun Wu, Nonclassical Ion Channels in the Nervous System, 2021
The ability to accurately detect affective states in others is crucial to build social relationships and avoid dangers. The mPFC plays an important role in emotional discrimination via top-down control of the limbic system (Dal Monte et al. 2013; Hiser and Koenigs 2018). To further understand the underlying neuronal substrates, Scheggia et al. recorded neural activities in the mPFC of observer mice during a behavioral task for emotional discrimination (Scheggia et al. 2020). They found that the narrow-spiking neurons, that is, putative inhibitory INs, are the most responsive during interactions with either a stressed or a relieved demonstrator mouse. In line with findings from our pharmacogenetic inhibition experiments (Liu et al. 2020), Scheggia et al. found that optogenetic inhibition of PV INs but not SST INs compromised the observer’s general sociability. However, interestingly, photoinhibition of SST INs abolished affective state discrimination, yet inhibition of PV INs had no effect. Consistently, when Ca2+ signals of individual SST INs were examined with in vivo single-cell microendoscopy, increased synchronous activity of SST INs was noticed when the observer was interacting with an emotionally altered demonstrator. Thus, contrary to not being a determinant in regulating sociability, mPFC SST INs are required for the prefrontal gating of emotion discrimination.
Introduction
Published in Shoogo Ueno, Bioimaging, 2020
Optogenetics is rapidly expanding in various fields in the neuroscience world, but this technology is only used for animal studies. Studies for human subjects are not allowed because the gene delivery and optical control of neuronal activities by inserting optical fibers into human brain regions is forbidden.
Neuroenhancement and Therapy in National Defense Contexts
Published in L. Syd M Johnson, Karen S. Rommelfanger, The Routledge Handbook of Neuroethics, 2017
Michael N. Tennison, Jonathan D. Moreno
Stimulating and modulating the brain with electricity, electromagnetism, and ultrasound may end up treating and enhancing a vast array of cognitive capacities related to learning and memory, but all of these techniques lack the ability to selectively target certain kinds of neurons while leaving others unaffected. Genes, on the other hand, produce proteins unique to certain kinds of cells and therefore hold promise for researchers to understand and ultimately intervene at the level of individual neurons and their pathways. A new laboratory system called optogenetics entails tagging particular neuronal systems with opsins, a type of light-sensitive protein, to visualize and manipulate neuronal activity (Tye and Deisseroth, 2012). By inserting opsin-producing genes, neurons in the brain can be activated or blocked with fiber-optic light. This kind of precise control over individual neurons opens up many areas of research. For example, in the laboratory, light-sensitive proteins have conditioned rodents for fear responses (Liu et al., 2012), the ventromedial hypothalamus to stimulate mating and aggression (Lin et al., 2011), and the spiral ganglion to reverse hearing loss (Hernandez et al., 2014). Optogenetics is far from experimentation in human subjects, but the implication is clear: optogenetics is a powerful and precise method for learning about the brain and for the control of certain behaviors and capabilities, information that may someday lead to new modalities for neurological management and enhancement.
Taking Relational Authenticity Seriously: Neurotechnologies, Narrative Identity, and Co-Authorship of the Self
Published in AJOB Neuroscience, 2021
Emilian Mihailov, Alexandra Zorila, Cristian Iftode
Responsible development of neurotechnologies requires us to anticipate and reflect on how they could alter cognitive functioning, individual agency and self-understanding (Mihailov and Savulescu 2018; Yuste et al. 2017). Optogenetics, a neuromodulatory technique involving the use of light to control activity of individual brain cells, has the unique potential to switch on and off selected memories on demand. This technique might help people with long lasting traumatic memories to move on and start anew. Zawadzki and Adamczyk (2021) rightly consider the potential ways in which memory modification technologies could disrupt one’s identity and personality. They make the case that some of our autobiographical memories are self-defining, in the sense that such memories may establish the most critical and organizing themes of narrative identity of a person. Thus, optogenetics interventions which aim to modify self-defining memories pose the most threat to personal authenticity. If we erase, for example, someone’s memories of victimization (prima facie a therapeutic and hence valuable goal) and these memories are self-defining, then we might trigger disruptive personality changes which cannot be made intelligible to the agent in the light of that agent’s pre-existing values and commitments.
Can Memory Make a Difference? Reasons for Changing or Not Our Autobiographical Memory
Published in AJOB Neuroscience, 2021
Optogenetics is a technique that promises to enable highly precise interventions in brain function. Experiments on animal models already indicate its enormous potential for memory changes. Recent studies have shown, for example, that it is possible to create completely artificial olfactory memories in mice, associated with pleasant or unpleasant sensations (Vetere et al. 2019). Previous studies have also managed to successfully change the value of specific memories (Redondo et al. 2014). This suggests that individual mnestic traces can be accessed and modified in the brain areas involved in the memory process. However, the examples known so far concern basic sensory aspects that are important for physical survival. What is hypothesized for human beings, instead, is the modulation of complex autobiographical memories, presumably composed of multiple circuit activations.
Optogenetic Manipulation of Maladaptive Memory – New Challenges or New Solutions for Personal Authenticity?
Published in AJOB Neuroscience, 2021
In summary, the idea that optogenetic approaches pose unique challenges to personal authenticity is not well-founded. If optogenetic approaches develop to the level of sophistication for use in humans, I think there will also be ways that it could be used without necessarily just silencing memories. More authenticity-preserving approaches will likely be favored by users. Despite my challenges, Zawadzki and Adamczyk are right to consider whether there may be novel or unique ethical concerns with optogenetics. Thinking about routine use of optogenetic technology in humans seems almost absurd at present, yet the enthusiasm with which similarly invasive technologies such as Neuralink have been received suggests a market for such devices. Ethical implications of these technologies will not be restricted to authenticity or even memory, but will extend to all aspects of our mental lives.