Re-innervation of Learning with Neuronal Plasticity: the Neuromuscular Junction as a Model

Event Abstract Back to Event Re-innervation of Learning with Neuronal Plasticity: the Neuromuscular Junction as a Model Mohamed A. Fahim1*, Claudine Habak1, Mohamed L. Seghier1, Faraz Farooq1 and Mohamed Baniyas1 1 Emirates College for Advanced Education, cognitive neuroimaging unit, United Arab Emirates One of the most unique and intriguing qualities of the nervous system is neuronal remodeling. This phenomenon not only allows neurons to thrive and adapt to new environments, but also improves their performance over time. Neural plasticity plays a key role in functionally restructuring parts of the brain based on our experiences and helps us to improve performance in important brain functions, such as learning and memory (Bailey et al., 2015). The neuromuscular junction (NMJ) serves as a useful model for investigating neural plasticity because of its simplicity, accessibility, and wealth of available background information. Identifying how synaptic structure and function change in response to use and disuse, with development across the lifespan, sheds light on synaptic turnover (Nanou et al., 2016). Remodeling of the NMJ occurs throughout the lifespan, as evidenced by its recurrent degeneration and regeneration (Fahim, 1997). Generally, aging may lead to a decrease in the number and conduction velocity of fast motor units (Krutki et al., 2015), while the relationship between pre- and postsynaptic components of the NMJ remains constant throughout aging (Deschenes et al, 2013). However, activity allows for modulation. For example, age-related variations in physical activity have been shown to dynamically modify the structure and function of the NMJ (Fahim, 1997), along with the coupling of muscular excitation-contraction (Fahim and Robbins, 1986). In addition, muscle strength and protein turnover increase after exercise in older subjects (Mero et al, 2013), and interestingly, the amount of damage and capacity for repair are similar for younger and older adults after strenuous exercise (Kuruganti et al., 2005). In summary, much of the reductions in functional capacity and quality of life observed in aging, are most likely the result of a sedentary lifestyle (Makanae & Fujita, 2015) and not aging per se, as corroborated by the positive effects of physical activity on muscle fibers in the elderly (Miller, 2014). Taken together, this highlights the relationship between experience and neuronal plasticity, and emphasizes the importance of practice to sustain and improve neural function. This approach is particularly useful to better understand how learning changes neuronal plasticity in various populations, such as persons with special needs, and across age. References Krutki P, Hałuszka A, Mrówczyński W, Gardiner PF, Celichowski J. Adaptations of motoneuron properties to chronic compensatory muscle overload. J Neurophysiol. 2015;113(7):2769-77. Kuruganti U, Parker P, Rickards J, Tingley M, Sexsmith J. Bilateral isokinetic training reduces the bilateral leg strength deficit for both old and young adults. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2005;94(1-2):175-9 Makanae Y, Fujita S. Role of Exercise and Nutrition in the Prevention of Sarcopenia. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2015; 61 Suppl:S125-7. Mero AA, Hulmi JJ, Salmijärvi H, Katajavuori M, Haverinen M, Holviala J, Ridanpää T, Häkkinen K, Kovanen V, Ahtiainen JP, Selänne H. Resistance training induced increase in muscle fiber size in young and older men. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2013;113(3):641-50. Miller MS, Callahan DM, Toth MJ. Skeletal muscle myofilament adaptations to aging, disease, and disuse and their effects on wholemuscle performance in older adult humans. Front Physiol. 2014;5:369. Nanou E, Yan J, Whitehead NP, Kim MJ, Froehner SC, Scheuer T, Catterall WA. Altered short term synaptic plasticity and reduced muscle strength in mice with impaired regulation of presynaptic CaV2.1 Ca2+ channels. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2016;113(4):1068-73. Keywords: NMJ, aging neuroscience, Exercise, Learning and plasticity, disuse atrophy Conference: International Conference - Educational Neuroscience, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 28 Feb - 29 Feb, 2016. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation Topic: Educational Neuroscience Citation: Fahim MA, Habak C, Seghier ML, Farooq F and Baniyas M (2016). Re-innervation of Learning with Neuronal Plasticity: the Neuromuscular Junction as a Model. Front. Neurosci. Conference Abstract: International Conference - Educational Neuroscience. doi: 10.3389/conf.fnins.2016.92.00026 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 18 Feb 2016; Published Online: 23 Mar 2016. * Correspondence: Prof. Mohamed A Fahim, Emirates College for Advanced Education, cognitive neuroimaging unit, Abu Dhabi, Please select an option below, N/A, United Arab Emirates, mfahim@ecae.ac.ae Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Mohamed A Fahim Claudine Habak Mohamed L Seghier Faraz Farooq Mohamed Baniyas Google Mohamed A Fahim Claudine Habak Mohamed L Seghier Faraz Farooq Mohamed Baniyas Google Scholar Mohamed A Fahim Claudine Habak Mohamed L Seghier Faraz Farooq Mohamed Baniyas PubMed Mohamed A Fahim Claudine Habak Mohamed L Seghier Faraz Farooq Mohamed Baniyas Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.