What is it about?
We used computer simulations to study the the role of an enigmatic intracellular organelle for signal processing and propagation in neurons of the human brain - the "spine apparatus". The computer models are based on reconstructions of real human synapses.
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Photo by Moritz Kindler on Unsplash
Why is it important?
The spine apparatus is expected to have a major impact on our ability to learn. However, its functions remain not well understood.
Perspectives
Through deepening our comprehension of brain plasticity and the function spine apparatus organelles play, we will make strides towards unlocking how the human mind operates; leading to possible treatments that enhance memory capacity and learning abilities.
Andreas Vlachos
Albert-Ludwigs-Universitat Freiburg
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Calcium modeling of spine apparatus-containing human dendritic spines demonstrates an “all-or-nothing” communication switch between the spine head and dendrite, PLoS Computational Biology, April 2022, PLOS,
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010069.
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Resources
Calcium modeling of spine apparatus-containing human dendritic spines demonstrates an “all-or-nothing” communication switch between the spine head and dendrite
Link to the original publication
All-trans retinoic acid induces synaptic plasticity in human cortical neurons
A related study, which shows that Vitamin A induces structural and functional plasticity in human cortical neurons (including changes of spine apparatus organelles).
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