Mahmoud El-Rifai

The Secondary Somatosensory Cortex Gates Mechanical and Thermal Sensitivity

This study investigates how the secondary somatosensory cortex (S2) modulates mechanical and thermal sensitivity through distinct neural circuits compared to the primary somatosensory cortex (S1).

Biophysical demonstration of co-packaging of glutamate and GABA in individual synaptic vesicles in the central nervous system

The paper demonstrates co-packaging of glutamate and GABA in individual synaptic vesicles of EP Sst+ neurons using a combined electrophysiology, optogenetics, and computational modeling approach.

Cortical ChAT+ neurons co-transmit acetylcholine and GABA in a target- and brain-region specific manner

The paper identifies that cortical ChAT+ neurons co-transmit acetylcholine and GABA in a target- and brain-region specific manner, revealing heterogeneity in their function and connectivity.

Cerebellum-specific deletion of the GABAA receptor δ subunit alters anxiety-like, social and maternal behaviors without affecting motor performance

This study deletes the GABAA receptor δ subunit in cerebellar granule cells in mice, revealing its role in anxiety, social, and maternal behaviors without affecting motor performance.

Target-specific co-transmission of acetylcholine and GABA from a subset of cortical VIP+ interneurons

The paper identifies VIP/ChAT interneurons as a local source of cortical ACh and shows they co-transmit ACh and GABA to specific post-synaptic targets.