Neuronal Communications – NC

Topics

• Synaptic assembly and function, mechanisms of endocytosis, exocytosis, membrane recycling, axonal and dendritic transport, neuronal polarity, growth cones, structural plasticity, homeostasis, and mRNA localization in the central and peripheral nervous systems.
• Alterations of synaptic integrity and function associated with central and peripheral nervous system disorders; cytoskeletal pathology as it relates to neurodegenerative diseases, disruption of transport
• Studies that incorporate emerging ‘-omics’ data as they relate to synaptic structure, function and plasticity
• Molecular mechanisms underlying synaptic plasticity such as long-term potentiation (LTP), long-term depression (LTD) and paired pulse facilitation; modulation of neuronal excitability
• Signal transduction molecules in neurons, glia, muscle and excitable cells including sensory transducers and modulators
• Modulators of synaptic function including growth factors, neurotrophins, neuropeptides and neurosteroids.
• The neurophysiology of neurotransmitter, neuropeptide, and neuromodulator signaling, and regulation as they relate to neuronal communication and circuits.
• Electrical coupling and calcium as a second messenger, including calcium storage, homeostasis and buffering in the context of neuronal communication and circuits.
• The regulation and modulation of ion channels, transporters and receptors, sensory transduction machinery, and second messenger systems, including localization, assembly, trafficking, turnover and degradation in the context of neuronal communication and circuits.
• Biophysical integration of neural function including quantitative modeling of neural function such as synaptic integration and spike coding.

Shared Interests and Overlaps

The Neuronal Communications (NC) Study Section and the NSDS Study Section have overlapping interests in calcium homeostasis, synaptic plasticity, signal transduction, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial biology, particularly as these processes relate to neurodegenerative diseases and neural injury. Applications focused more on how these processes influence synaptic structure, synaptic transmission, and neural circuit function can be reviewed in NC. Applications focused more on how energy metabolism or mitochondrial biology affects these processes in neurodegeneration or neuroprotection can be reviewed in NSDS.

There are shared interests in synapse formation and plasticity, as well as cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying neuronal and glial properties, with NSDR, particularly with regard to processes involving polarity and migration in the CNS. Applications with a greater emphasis on adult synaptic function and underlying mechanisms such as vesicular trafficking, exocytosis or cytoskeletal dynamics are reviewed in NC. Applications with an emphasis on development or regeneration are reviewed in NSDR. In addition, applications that emphasize neuronal polarity, axonal and dendritic transport, growth cone dynamics, and related mechanisms in the context of adult neuronal communication and circuitry can be reviewed in NC, whereas applications that study polarity and migration during early nervous system formation and development, including neurogenesis, progenitor cell induction, proliferation, and differentiation, can be reviewed in NSDR.

There are shared interests between NC and BMGS in neuronal mechanisms involving glial cells, particularly the roles in synaptic transmission and in maintaining homeostasis of the neuronal environment in the central and peripheral nervous systems. Applications that focus on how glia contribute to synaptic function and homeostatic regulation in the context of neuronal communication and circuitry can be reviewed in NC. Applications emphasizing glial physiology, neuroglial interaction and the broader role of glia in regulating the neuronal environment can be reviewed in BMGS.

There are shared interests in the application of molecular biology and genetic approaches to investigate neuronal function and dysfunction with the Molecular Neurogenetics (MNG) study section. Applications that primarily use molecular and genetic techniques to examine alterations in synaptic integrity, synaptic plasticity, and functions linked to cytoskeletal pathology related to neuronal dysfunction can be reviewed in NC. Applications that focus on genetics, the development or use of genetic tools, or genetic discovery related to neuronal function or dysfunction are more appropriate for review in MNG.

There are shared interests in neurobiological mechanisms and neural plasticity with Learning, Memory and Decision Neuroscience (LMDN). Applications that emphasize the cellular level of neuronal communications and plasticity are reviewed in NC. Applications that emphasize organismal/systems level of plasticity, learning, memory, and decision making are reviewed in LMDN. 

NC and LMDN share interests in neurobiological mechanisms and neural plasticity. Applications that focus on the cellular and molecular processes underlying neuronal communication, synaptic assembly and function, trafficking, and structural plasticity in the context of neuronal circuitry are appropriate for review in NC. Applications that emphasize plasticity, learning, memory, and decision making at the systems or organismal level, mainly including studies of functional circuits, anatomical pathways, behavioral physiology, and computational modeling of learning and memory processes, are more appropriate for review in LMDN.

There are shared interests in endocytosis, exocytosis, membrane recycling, and second messenger systems with Cell Structure and Function-1 (CSF-1) Study Section.  Applications studying cell biology of protein targeting, trafficking, and cellular metabolism are reviewed in CSF1.  Applications that emphasize role of these in neuronal communication and neural circuitry are reviewed in NC.

There are shared interests in signaling molecules and signal transduction mechanisms, in neural cell types with Cellular Signaling and Regulatory Systems (CSRS) study section.  Applications with emphasis on neuronal communication and neural circuitry are reviewed in NC. Applications focused on cellular and molecular mechanisms of receptor mediated and intracellular signaling are reviewed in CSRS.

There are shared interests in in signaling molecules and signal transduction mechanisms, neuromodulation, sensory transduction, and second messengers in neural cell types with Biochemistry and Biophysics of Membranes (BBM). Applications that emphasize the role of these in neuronal communications and neural circuitry are reviewed in NC. Applications that emphasize structure-function relationships and biophysical mechanisms of receptors and other transmembrane signaling complexes and second messenger system components are reviewed in BBM.

There are shared interests in electrical coupling and neurophysiology with Molecular Cellular Neuropharmacology (MCNP).  Applications that emphasize the role of these in neuronal communication and neural circuitry are reviewed in NC. Applications that emphasize the role of these in normal neuronal physiology and circuit function and dysfunction are reviewed in MNCP.