Genelle Rankin

Lipid Activation of a Thalamic GPCR Extends Working Memory Time-scales

This study identifies a lipid signaling mechanism involving AEA-Gpr12 in thalamus that extends working memory duration by suppressing cAMP and supporting sustained neural activity in PFC.

Genetic mapping identifies Homer1 as a developmental modifier of attention

This study identifies Homer1 as a gene that modulates attention by altering prefrontal cortex inhibitory tone and signal-to-noise ratio in mice.

Nerve injury disrupts temporal processing in the spinal cord dorsal horn through alterations in PV+ interneurons

This study shows nerve injury disrupts temporal firing patterns in spinal cord dorsal horn neurons, driven by PV+ interneurons, contributing to mechanical allodynia.

Three-dimensional reconstructions of mechanosensory end organs suggest a unifying mechanism underlying dynamic, light touch

This study uses 3D reconstructions of mechanosensory end organs to propose a unified mechanism for Aβ RA-LTMR activation through axon protrusions and Piezo2 distribution.

DRG afferents that mediate physiologic and pathologic mechanosensation from the distal colon

The paper identifies distinct subsets of DRG neurons innervating the distal colon with different mechanosensitivity thresholds, showing their role in physiological and pathological responses to colon distension.

Mechanoreceptor signal convergence and transformation in the dorsal horn flexibly shape a diversity of outputs to the brain

This study shows that spinal cord dorsal horn neurons integrate inputs from multiple mechanoreceptor subtypes, leading to diverse mechanical response profiles and influencing tactile representations in the brain.