RESEARCH GROUPS
Laboratory of Emotions Neurobiology
Research activities of our laboratory are focused on the neurobiological basis of emotions. We are particularly interested in the mechanisms of socially transferred emotions (in rodent models of emotional contagion). Emotional contagion, i.e., the capacity to be affected by and/or share the emotional state of another individual, is considered to be the simplest form of empathy. In our laboratory we study neuronal circuits in the amygdala underlying social transfer of positive and negative emotions. In order to understand how the systems underlying social communication operate we employ rat and mouse models, as well as neuronal tracing and optogenetic techniques. The two main questions our research is focused on are: (1) Are the neural circuits underlying positive and negative social emotions distinct? (2) Does the social brain exist, i.e., are there neural circuits specialized in social emotions? We also investigate the brain circuits and cellular mechanisms underlying impaired social interactions and the possibilities of therapeutic intervention in mouse genetic and idiopathic models of autism spectrum disorder. Using state-of- the-art automatic systems for assessing social behavior and neurobiology tools we try to explain why some individuals suffer from autism. Thalamo-Cortical Processing Group focuses on the effect emotional and cognitive state of the brain has on information processing within first and higher order thalamo-cortical pathways as well as the salience and valence of sensory stimuli.
2022
- Puścian, A., Bryksa, A., Kondrakiewicz, L., Kostecki, M., Winiarski, M., & Knapska, E. (2022). Ability to share emotions of others as a foundation of social learning. Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews, 132, 23–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.11.022
2021
- Andraka K, Kondrakiewicz K, Rojek-Sito K, Ziegart-Sadowska K, Meyza K, Nikolaev T, Hamed A, Kursa M, Wójcik M, Danielewski K, Wiatrowska M, Kublik E, Bekisz M, Lebitko T, Duque D, Jaworski T, Madej H, Konopka W, Boguszewski PM, Knapska E. Distinct circuits in rat central amygdala for defensive behaviors evoked by socially signaled imminent versus remote danger. Curr Biol. 2021 Jun 7;31(11):2347-2358.e6. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2021.03.047
- Szadzinska, W., Danielewski, K., Kondrakiewicz, K., Andraka, K., Nikolaev, E., Mikosz, M., & Knapska, E. (2021). Hippocampal Inputs in the Prelimbic Cortex Curb Fear after Extinction. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 41(44), 9129–9140. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0764-20.2021
- Puścian A, Winiarski M, Łęski S, Charzewski Ł, Nikolaev T, Borowska J, Dzik JM, Bijata M, Lipp HP, Dziembowska M, Knapska E. Chronic fluoxetine treatment impairs motivation and reward learning by affecting neuronal plasticity in the central amygdala. Br J Pharmacol. 2021 Feb;178(3):672-688. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.15319
- Gorlewicz, A., Barthet, G., Zucca, S., Vincent, P., Griguoli, M., Grosjean, N., Wilczynski, G., & Mulle, C. (2021). The Deletion of GluK2 Alters Cholinergic Control of Neuronal Excitability. Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991), bhab390. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhab390
- Racicka-Pawlukiewicz E, Kuć K, Bielecki M, Hanć T, Cybulska-Klosowicz A, Bryńska A. The Association between Executive Functions and Body Weight/BMI in Children and Adolescents with ADHD. Brain Sci. 2021 Feb 1;11(2):178.
- Lubec J, Kalaba P, Hussein AM, Feyissa DD, Kotob MH, Mahmmoud RR, Wieder O, Garon A, Sagheddu C, Ilic M, Dragačević V, Cybulska-Klosowicz A, Zehl M, Wackerlig J, Sartori SB, Ebner K, Kouhnavardi S, Roller A, Gajic N, Pistis M, Singewald N, Leban JJ, Korz V, Malikovic J, Plasenzotti R, Sitte HH, Monje FJ, Langer T, Urban E, Pifl C, Lubec G. Reinstatement of synaptic plasticity in the aging brain through specific dopamine transporter inhibition. Mol Psychiatry. 2021 Jul 9. doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-021-01214-x.
- Ahmadi M, Kazemi K, Kuc K, Cybulska-Klosowicz A, Helfroush MS, Aarabi A. Resting state dynamic functional connectivity in children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. J Neural Eng. 2021 Aug 16;18(4).
- Ahmadi M, Kazemi K, Kuc K, Cybulska-Klosowicz A, Helfroush MS, Aarabi A. Disrupted Functional Rich-Club Organization of the Brain Networks in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, a Resting-State EEG Study. Brain Sci. 2021 Jul 16;11(7):938.
- Bielski K, Adamus S, Kolada E, Rączaszek-Leonardi J, Szatkowska I. Parcellation of the human amygdala using recurrence quantification analysis. Neuroimage. 2021 Feb 15;227:117644. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117644. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811920311290?via%3Dihub
- Karwicka, W., Wiatrowska, M., Kondrakiewicz, K., Knapska, E., Kursa, M. B., & Hamed, A. (2021). Relaying Aversive Ultrasonic Alarm Calls Depends on Previous Experience. Empathy, Social Buffering, or Panic?. Brain sciences, 11(6), 759. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11060759
2020
- Olsson, A., Knapska, E., & Lindström, B. (2020). The neural and computational systems of social learning. Nature reviews. Neuroscience, 21(4), 197–212. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41583-020-0276-4
- Szczepanik, M., Kaźmierowska, A. M., Michałowski, J. M., Wypych, M., Olsson, A., & Knapska, E. (2020). Observational learning of fear in real time procedure. Scientific reports, 10(1), 16960. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-74113-w
- Kiryk, A., Janusz, A., Zglinicki, B., Turkes, E., Knapska, E., Konopka, W., Lipp, H. P., & Kaczmarek, L. (2020). IntelliCage as a tool for measuring mouse behavior - 20 years perspective. Behavioural brain research, 388, 112620. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112620
- Puścian, A., Benisty, H., & Higley, M. J. (2020). NMDAR-Dependent Emergence of Behavioral Representation in Primary Visual Cortex. Cell reports, 32(4), 107970. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2020.107970
- Cybulska-Klosowicz A, Tremblay F, Jiang W, Bourgeon S, Meftah EM, Chapman CE. Differential effects of the mode of touch, active and passive, on experience-driven plasticity in the S1 cutaneous digit representation of adult macaque monkeys. J Neurophysiol. 2020 Mar 1;123(3):1072-1089.
- Kuc K, Bielecki M, Racicka-Pawlukiewicz E, Czerwinski MB, Cybulska-Klosowicz A. The SLC6A3 gene polymorphism is related to the development of attentional functions but not to ADHD. Sci Rep. 2020 Apr 10;10(1):6176.
- Ahmadi M, Kazemi K, Kuc K, Cybulska-Klosowicz A, Zakrzewska M, Racicka-Pawlukiewicz E, Helfroush MS, Aarabi A. Cortical source analysis of resting state EEG data in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Clin Neurophysiol. 2020 Sep;131(9):2115-2130.
- Gorlewicz, A., Krawczyk, K., Szczepankiewicz, A. A., Trzaskoma, P., Mulle, C., & Wilczynski, G. M. (2020). Colocalization Colormap -an ImageJ Plugin for the Quantification and Visualization of Colocalized Signals. Neuroinformatics, 18(4), 661–664. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12021-020-09465-9
- Bogorodzki P, Piątkowska-Janko E, Obrębski W, Krzewski M, Wolak T, Krawczyk M, Soluch P, Szatkowska I. Czynnościowy rezonans magnetyczny (fMRI) w badaniach rehabilitacji poudarowej. Inżynieria Biomedyczna - podstawy i zastosowania (2020); Tom 8 (Obrazowanie Biomedyczne), Część 2 (Systemy Zobrazowań), Rozdział 2.8, str. 403-430. Akademicka Oficyna Wydawnicza Exit. ISBN 978-83-7837-097-0.
- Kuzniewska, B., Cysewski, D., Wasilewski, M., Sakowska, P., Milek, J., Kulinski, T. M., Winiarski, M., Kozielewicz, P., Knapska, E., Dadlez, M., Chacinska, A., Dziembowski, A., & Dziembowska, M. (2020). Mitochondrial protein biogenesis in the synapse is supported by local translation. EMBO reports, 21(8), e48882. https://doi.org/10.15252/embr.201948882
2019
- Kondrakiewicz K, Rokosz-Andraka K, Nikolaev T, Górkiewicz T, Danielewski K, Gruszczyńska A, Meyza K, Knapska E. Social Transfer of Fear in Rodents. Curr Protoc Neurosci. 2019 Dec;90(1):e85. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpns.85
- Koza P, Beroun A, Konopka A, Górkiewicz T, Bijoch L, Torres JC, Bulska E, Knapska E, Kaczmarek L, Konopka W. Neuronal TDP-43 depletion affects activity-dependent plasticity. Neurobiol Dis. 2019 Oct;130:104499. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbd.2019.104499
- Kondrakiewicz K, Kostecki M, Szadzińska W, Knapska E. Ecological validity of social interaction tests in rats and mice. Genes Brain Behav. 2019 Jan;18(1):e12525. doi: 10.1111/gbb.12525 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/gbb.12525
- Rymarczyk K, Zurawski L, Jankowiak-Siuda K, Szatkowska I. Empathy in facial mimicry of fear and disgust: simultaneous EMG-fMRI registration during observation of static and dynamic facial expressions. Front Psychol. 2019 Mar 27;10:701.doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00701. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00701/full
- Blanchard DC, Meyza K. Risk assessment and serotonin: Animal models and human psychopathologies. Behav Brain Res. 2019 Jan 14;357-358:9-17. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.07.008. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0166432817306551?via%3Dihub
2002-2018
- Jaworski J, Kalita K, Knapska E. c-Fos and neuronal plasticity: the aftermath of Kaczmarek's theory. Acta Neurobiol Exp (Wars). 2018;78(4):287-296. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30624427
- Meyza K, Knapska E. What can rodents teach us about empathy? Curr Opin Psychol. 2018 Dec;24:15-20. doi: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2018.03.002. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352250X17302816?via%3Dihub
- Dzik, J. M., Puścian, A., Mijakowska, Z., Radwanska, K., & Łęski, S. (2018). PyMICE: APython library for analysis of IntelliCage data. Behavior research methods, 50(2), 804–815. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13428-017-0907-5
- Harda Z, Dzik JM, Nalberczak-Skóra M, Meyza K, Łukasiewicz K, Łęski S, Radwanska K. Autophosphorylation of αCaMKII affects social interactions in mice. Genes Brain Behav. 2018 Jun;17(5):e12457. doi: 10.1111/gbb.12457 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/gbb.12457
- Meyza K., & Knapska E. Eds. Book: „Neuronal Correlates of Empathy - From Rodent to Human” Paperback ISBN: 9780128053973, eBook ISBN: 9780128093481
- Meyza KZ, Knapska E. Why mother rats protect their children. Elife. 2017 Jun 13;6. pii: e28514. doi: 10.7554/eLife.28514. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5469613/
- de Hoz L, Gierej D, Lioudyno V, Jaworski J, Blazejczyk M, Cruces-Solís H, Beroun A, Lebitko T, Nikolaev T, Knapska E, Nelken I, Kaczmarek L. Blocking c-Fos Expression Reveals the Role of Auditory Cortex Plasticity in Sound Frequency Discrimination Learning. Cereb Cortex. 2017 Mar 17:1-11. doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhx060. [Epub ahead of print] https://academic.oup.com/cercor/article-lookup/doi/10.1093/cercor/bhx060
- Stefaniuk M, Beroun A, Lebitko T, Markina O, Leski S, Meyza K, Grzywacz A, Samochowiec J, Samochowiec A, Radwanska K, Kaczmarek L. Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 and Synaptic Plasticity in the Central Amygdala in Control of Alcohol-Seeking Behavior. Biol Psychiatry. 2017 Jan 5. pii: S0006-3223(17)30001-X. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2016.12.026. [Epub ahead of print] http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000632231730001X
- Meyza KZ, Blanchard DC. The BTBR mouse model of idiopathic autism – Current view on mechanisms. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2017 Feb 3. pii: S0149-7634(16)30538-3. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.12.037. [Epub ahead of print] Review. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149763416305383
- Vater M, Möckl L, Gormanns V, Schultz Fademrecht C, Mallmann AM, Ziegart-Sadowska K, Zaba M, Frevert ML, Bräuchle C, Holsboer F, Rein T, Schmidt U, Kirmeier T. New insights into the intracellular distribution pattern of cationic amphiphilic drugs. Sci Rep. 2017 Mar 10;7:44277. doi: 10.1038/srep44277. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5345070/
- Meyza KZ, Bartal IB, Monfils MH, Panksepp JB, Knapska E. The roots of empathy: Through the lens of rodent models. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2016 Nov 4. pii: S0149-7634(15)30343-2. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.10.028. [Epub ahead of print] Review. https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0149-7634(15)30343-2
- Puścian A, Łęski S, Kasprowicz G, Winiarski M, Borowska J, Nikolaev T, Boguszewski PM, Lipp HP, Knapska E. Eco-HAB as a fully automated and ecologically relevant assessment of social impairments in mouse models of autism. Elife. 2016 Oct 12;5. pii: e19532. doi: 10.7554/eLife.19532. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5092044/
- Roszkowska M, Skupien A, Wójtowicz T, Konopka A, Gorlewicz A, Kisiel M, Bekisz M, Ruszczycki B, Dolezyczek H, Rejmak E, Knapska E, Mozrzymas JW, Wlodarczyk J, Wilczynski GM, Dzwonek J. CD44: a novel synaptic cell adhesion molecule regulating structural and functional plasticity of dendritic spines. Mol Biol Cell. 2016 Dec 15;27(25):4055-4066. Epub 2016 Oct 19. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5156546/
- Magnowska M, Gorkiewicz T, Suska A, Wawrzyniak M, Rutkowska-Wlodarczyk I, Kaczmarek L, Wlodarczyk J. Transient ECM protease activity promotes synaptic plasticity. Sci Rep. 2016 Jun 10;6:27757. doi: 10.1038/srep27757. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4901294/
- Misiewicz A, Goncerzewicz A, Jędrzejczak R, Zdziennicki F. Intra-strains diversity of expression of polymorphic PKS4 gene in comparison in zearalenone production by Fusarium graminearum during in vitro cultivation. Acta Biochim Pol. 2016;63(1):97-102. doi: 10.18388/abp.2015_1022. http://www.actabp.pl/pdf/1_2016/2015_1022.pdf
- Goncerzewicz A, Misiewicz A, Owczarek L, Jasińska U, Skąpska S. The Effect of a Newly Developed Oat-Banana Fermented Beverage with a Beta-glucan Additive on ldhL Gene Expression in Streptococcus thermophilus T(K)M(3) KKP 2030p. Curr Microbiol. 2016 Dec;73(6):773-780. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5059402/
- Mikosz M, Nowak A, Werka T, Knapska E. Sex differences in social modulation of learning in rats. Sci Rep. 2015 Dec 14;5:18114. doi: 10.1038/srep18114. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4677340/
- Meyza K, Nikolaev T, Kondrakiewicz K, Blanchard DC, Blanchard RJ, Knapska E. Neuronal correlates of asocial behavior in a BTBR T (+) Itpr3(tf)/J mouse model of autism. Front Behav Neurosci. 2015 Aug 6;9:199. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2015.00199. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4526814/
- Gorkiewicz T, Balcerzyk M, Kaczmarek L, Knapska E. Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) is indispensable for long term potentiation in the central and basal but not in the lateral nucleus of the amygdala. Front Cell Neurosci. 2015 Mar 11;9:73. doi: 10.3389/fncel.2015.00073. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4356064/
- Pisula E, Ziegart-Sadowska K. Broader Autism Phenotype in Siblings of Children with ASD--A Review. Int J Mol Sci. 2015 Jun 10;16(6):13217-58. doi:10.3390/ijms160613217. Review. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4490493/
- Pisula E, Ziegart-Sadowska K. Social Communication and Language Deficits in Parents and Siblings of Children with ASD — A Short Review. In: Fitzgerald, M. (Ed.), Autism Spectrum Disorder - Recent Advances. 2015. InTech. https://www.intechopen.com/books/autism-spectrum-disorder-recent-advances/social-communication-and-language-deficits-in-parents-and-siblings-of-children-with-asd-a-short-revi
- Pisula E, Ziegart-Sadowska K, Kawa M. Language abilities in preschool-aged siblings of children with autism spectrum disorders – preliminary reports. Health Psychology Report, 2015. 3(3). https://www.termedia.pl/Language-abilities-in-preschool-aged-siblings-of-children-with-autism-spectrum-disorders-preliminary-report,74,24398,0,1.html
- Goncerzewicz A, Misiewicz A. The sequence diversity and expression among genes of the folic acid biosynthesis pathway in industrial Saccharomyces strains. Acta Biochim Pol. 2015;62(4):841-50. doi: 10.18388/abp.2015_1144. http://www.actabp.pl/pdf/4_2015/2015_1144.pdf
- Puścian A, Lęski S, Górkiewicz T, Meyza K, Lipp HP, Knapska E. A novel automated behavioral test battery assessing cognitive rigidity in two genetic mouse models of autism. Front Behav Neurosci. 2014 Apr 29;8:140. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00140. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4010752/
- Tsilibary E, Tzinia A, Radenovic L, Stamenkovic V, Lebitko T, Mucha M, Pawlak R, Frischknecht R, Kaczmarek L. Neural ECM proteases in learning and synaptic plasticity. Prog Brain Res. 2014;214:135-57. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-444-63486-3.00006-2. Review. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780444634863000062
- Knapska E, Lioudyno V, Kiryk A, Mikosz M, Górkiewicz T, Michaluk P, Gawlak M, Chaturvedi M, Mochol G, Balcerzyk M, Wojcik DK, Wilczynski GM, Kaczmarek L. Reward learning requires activity of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in the central amygdala. J Neurosci. 2013 Sep 4;33(36):14591-600. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5239-12.2013 http://www.jneurosci.org/content/33/36/14591.long
- Ganguly K, Rejmak E, Mikosz M, Nikolaev E, Knapska E, Kaczmarek L. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 9 transcription in mouse brain induced by fear learning. J Biol Chem. 2013 Jul 19;288(29):20978-91. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M113.457903. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3774367/
- Nowak A, Werka T, Knapska E. Social modulation in extinction of aversive memories. Behav Brain Res. 2013 Feb 1;238:200-5. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2012.10.031. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016643281200681X
- Kiryk A, Sowodniok K, Kreiner G, Rodriguez-Parkitna J, Sönmez A, Górkiewicz T, Bierhoff H, Wawrzyniak M, Janusz AK, Liss B, Konopka W, Schütz G, Kaczmarek L, Parlato R. Impaired rRNA synthesis triggers homeostatic responses in hippocampal neurons. Front Cell Neurosci. 2013 Nov 11;7:207. doi: 10.3389/fncel.2013.00207. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3823236/
- Meyza KZ, Defensor EB, Jensen AL, Corley MJ, Pearson BL, Pobbe RL, Bolivar VJ, Blanchard DC, Blanchard RJ. The BTBR T+ tf/J mouse model for autism spectrum disorders-in search of biomarkers. Behav Brain Res. 2013 Aug 15;251:25-34. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2012.07.021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3529977/
- Knapska E, Macias M, Mikosz M, Nowak A, Owczarek D, Wawrzyniak M, Pieprzyk M, Cymerman IA, Werka T, Sheng M, Maren S, Jaworski J, Kaczmarek L. Functional anatomy of neural circuits regulating fear and extinction. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Oct 16;109(42):17093-8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1202087109. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3479515/
- Dziembowska M, Milek J, Janusz A, Rejmak E, Romanowska E, Gorkiewicz T, Tiron A, Bramham CR, Kaczmarek L. Activity-dependent local translation of matrixmetalloproteinase-9. J Neurosci. 2012 Oct 17;32(42):14538-47. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.6028-11.2012. http://www.jneurosci.org/content/32/42/14538.long
- Hoehna Y, Uckermann O, Luksch H, Stefovska V, Marzahn J, Theil M, Gorkiewicz T, Gawlak M, Wilczynski GM, Kaczmarek L, Ikonomidou C. Matrix metalloproteinase 9 regulates cell death following pilocarpine-induced seizures in the developing brain. Neurobiol Dis. 2012 Dec;48(3):339-47. doi: 10.1016/j.nbd.2012.06.023. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0969996112002380
- Pearson BL, Bettis JK, Meyza KZ, Yamamoto LY, Blanchard DC, Blanchard RJ. Absence of social conditioned place preference in BTBR T+tf/J mice: relevance for social motivation testing in rodent models of autism. Behav Brain Res. 2012 Jul 15;233(1):99-104. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2012.04.040. Epub 2012 Apr 27. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3378798/
- Corley MJ, Meyza KZ, Blanchard DC, Blanchard RJ. Reduced sulfate plasma concentrations in the BTBR T+tf/J mouse model of autism. Physiol Behav. 2012 Dec 5;107(5):663-5. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2012.04.010. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3469741/
- Meyza KZ, Blanchard DC, Pearson BL, Pobbe RL, Blanchard RJ. Fractone-associated N-sulfated heparan sulfate shows reduced quantity in BTBR T+tf/J mice: a strong model of autism. Behav Brain Res. 2012 Mar 17;228(2):247-53. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2011.11.004. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/22101175/
- Nowak K, Meyza K, Nikolaev E, Hunt MJ, Kasicki S. Local blockade of NMDA receptors in the rat prefrontal cortex increases c-Fos expression in multiple subcortical regions. Acta Neurobiol Exp (Wars). 2012;72(3):207-18. http://www.ane.pl/linkout.php?pii=7219
- Kiryk A, Mochol G, Filipkowski RK, Wawrzyniak M, Lioudyno V, Knapska E, Gorkiewicz T, Balcerzyk M, Leski S, Leuven FV, Lipp HP, Wojcik DK, Kaczmarek L. Cognitive abilities of Alzheimer's disease transgenic mice are modulated by social context and circadian rhythm. Curr Alzheimer Res. 2011 Dec;8(8):883-92. http://www.eurekaselect.com/89141/article
- Orsini CA, Kim JH, Knapska E, Maren S. Hippocampal and prefrontal projections to the basal amygdala mediate contextual regulation of fear after extinction. J Neurosci. 2011 Nov 23;31(47):17269-77. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4095-11.2011. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3241946/
- Uckermann O, Luksch H, Stefovska V, Hoehna Y, Marzahn J, Theil M, Pesic M, Górkiewicz T, Gawlak M, Wilczynski GM, Kaczmarek L, Ikonomidou C. Matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 fail to influence drug-induced neuroapoptosis in developing rat brain. Neurotox Res. 2011 May;19(4):638-48. Doi: 10.1007/s12640-010-9211-1. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs12640-010-9211-1
- Meyza KZ, Boguszewski PM, Nikolaev E, Zagrodzka J. Age increases anxiety and reactivity of the fear/anxiety circuit in Lewis rats. Behav Brain Res. 2011 Nov 20;225(1):192-200. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2011.07.011. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0166432811005262
- Blanchard DC, Defensor EB, Meyza KZ, Pobbe RL, Pearson BL, Bolivar VJ, Blanchard RJ. BTBR T+tf/J mice: autism-relevant behaviors and reduced fractone-associated heparan sulfate. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2012 Jan;36(1):285-96. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2011.06.008. Erratum in: Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2012 Apr;36(4):1265. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3208071/
- Olczak M, Duszczyk M, Mierzejewski P, Meyza K, Majewska MD. Persistent behavioral impairments and alterations of brain dopamine system after early postnatal administration of thimerosal in rats. Behav Brain Res. 2011 Sep 30;223(1):107-18. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2011.04.026. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0166432811003366
- Knapska E, Mikosz M, Werka T, Maren S. Social modulation of learning in rats. Learn Mem. 2009 Dec 30;17(1):35-42. doi: 10.1101/lm.1670910. Print 2010 Jan. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3960044/
- Gorkiewicz T, Szczuraszek K, Wyrembek P, Michaluk P, Kaczmarek L, Mozrzymas JW. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 reversibly affects the time course of NMDA-induced currents in cultured rat hippocampal neurons. Hippocampus. 2010 Oct;20(10):1105-8. doi: 10.1002/hipo.20736. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hipo.20736/epdf
- Knapska E, Maren S. Reciprocal patterns of c-Fos expression in the medial prefrontal cortex and amygdala after extinction and renewal of conditioned fear. Learn Mem. 2009 Jul 24;16(8):486-93. doi: 10.1101/lm.1463909. Print 2009 Aug. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2726014/
- Jaholkowski P, Kiryk A, Jedynak P, Ben Abdallah NM, Knapska E, Kowalczyk A, Piechal A, Blecharz-Klin K, Figiel I, Lioudyno V, Widy-Tyszkiewicz E, Wilczynski GM, Lipp HP, Kaczmarek L, Filipkowski RK. New hippocampal neurons are not obligatory for memory formation; cyclin D2 knockout mice with no adult brain neurogenesis show learning. Learn Mem. 2009 Jun 24;16(7):439-51. doi: 10.1101/lm.1459709. Print 2009 Jul. http://learnmem.cshlp.org/content/16/7/439
- Chang CH, Knapska E, Orsini CA, Rabinak CA, Zimmerman JM, Maren S. Fear extinction in rodents. Curr Protoc Neurosci. 2009 Apr;Chapter 8:Unit8.23. doi: 10.1002/0471142301.ns0823s47 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2756523/
- Gawlak M, Górkiewicz T, Gorlewicz A, Konopacki FA, Kaczmarek L, Wilczynski GM. High resolution in situ zymography reveals matrix metalloproteinase activity at glutamatergic synapses. Neuroscience. 2009 Jan 12;158(1):167-76. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2008.05.045. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306452208007690
- Meyza KZ, Boguszewski PM, Nikolaev E, Zagrodzka J. Diverse sensitivity of RHA/Verh and RLA/Verh rats to emotional and spatial aspects of a novel environment as a result of a distinct pattern of neuronal activation in the fear/anxiety circuit. Behav Genet. 2009 Jan;39(1):48-61. doi: 10.1007/s10519-008-9234-z. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10519-008-9234-z
- Kiryk A, Aida T, Tanaka K, Banerjee P, Wilczynski GM, Meyza K, Knapska E, Filipkowski RK, Kaczmarek L, Danysz W. Behavioral characterization of GLT1 (+/-) mice as a model of mild glutamatergic hyperfunction. Neurotox Res. 2008 Jan;13(1):19-30. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF03033364
- Knapska E, Radwanska K, Werka T, Kaczmarek L. Functional internal complexity of amygdala: focus on gene activity mapping after behavioral training and drugs of abuse. Physiol Rev. 2007 Oct;87(4):1113-73. Review. http://physrev.physiology.org/content/87/4/1113.long
- Meyza KZ, Boguszewski PM, Nikolaev E, Zagrodzka J. The effect of age on the dynamics and the level of c-Fos activation in response to acute restraint in Lewis rats. Behav Brain Res. 2007 Jun 18;180(2):183-9. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0166432807001489
- Knapska E, Walasek G, Nikolaev E, Neuhäusser-Wespy F, Lipp HP, Kaczmarek L, Werka T. Differential involvement of the central amygdala in appetitive versus aversive learning. Learn Mem. 2006 Mar-Apr;13(2):192-200. Epub 2006 Mar 17. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1409843/
- Knapska E, Nikolaev E, Boguszewski P, Walasek G, Blaszczyk J, Kaczmarek L, Werka T. Between-subject transfer of emotional information evokes specific pattern of amygdala activation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2006 Mar 7;103(10):3858-62. Epub 2006 Feb 23. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1533786/
- Knapska E, Kaczmarek L. A gene for neuronal plasticity in the mammalian brain: Zif268/Egr-1/NGFI-A/Krox-24/TIS8/ZENK? Prog Neurobiol. 2004 Nov;74(4):183-211. Review. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301008204001625
- Radwanska K, Nikolaev E, Knapska E, Kaczmarek L. Differential response of two subdivisions of lateral amygdala to aversive conditioning as revealed by c-Fos and P-ERK mapping. Neuroreport. 2002 Dec 3;13(17):2241-6. http://journals.lww.com/neuroreport/pages/articleviewer.aspx?year=2002&issue=12030&article=00015&type=abstract
Current
Past ones
- 2021-2024 NCN SONATA | Coming together - neural dynamics of transition from out-group reserve to in-group fellowship, (A. Puścian)
- 2020-2022 NCN PRELUDIUM | The role of SOM+ interneurons in the prefrontal cortex in regulation of emotional contagion, (T. Nikolaev)
- 2019-2022 NCN PRELUDIUM | Socially acquired information about the food localization and the brain representation of the space, (M. Kostecki)
- 2016-2022 ERC | CoSI Functional connectomics of the amygdala in social interactions of different valence, (E. Knapska)
- 2018-2022 NCN OPUS | Social sharing of emotions in semi-natural settings of the Eco-HAB system, (E. Knapska)
- 2016-2022 NCN SONATA-BIS 5 | Assessment of synaptic plasticity impairments within the amygdalar complex in mouse models of autism spectrum disorder, (K. Meyza)
- 2016-2021 NCN OPUS 10 | Neural correlates of emotional contagion in humans, (E. Knapska)
- 2016 NCN SONATA 9 | Social buffering effects in extinction of fear memory, (T. Górkiewicz)
- 2014 NCN OPUS 6 | Neuronal circuits in central amygdala underlying socially transferred fear, (E. Knapska)
- 2013-2015 HOMING PLUS | Extracellular matrix factors in the development of autism-like phenotype, (K. Meyza)
- 2012-2014 PSPB | Validation of tissue- and age-specific therapeutic intervention on synaptopathies relevant to autism spectrum disorders, (E. Knapska)
- 2011 NCN SONATA 1 | Neuronal circuits underlying retrieval of fear memory after extinction, (E. Knapska)
Coming together - neural dynamics of transition from out-group reserve to in-group fellowship
Polish National Science Center, 2020/39/D/NZ4/01785 SONATA, grant to: Dr. Alicja Puścian
Classifying individuals as members of an in-group, that is social circles with whom we identify, is a rapid and unconscious process. Consequently, very little is required to discriminate against the ones we identify as out-group, which happens on a similarly prompt and arbitrary basis, and oftentimes results in an unconscious bias. Arguably, it is because classifying individuals as either “us” or “them” is a hard-wired neuronal mechanism. We will investigate the role of the brain structure known to be key for encoding social familiarity in all tested mammalian species – the prefrontal cortex. We will conduct research focused on the neural underpinnings of overcoming reserve towards unknown conspecifics, to compose an amicable social group. We will apply a combination of cutting-edge techniques of systems neuroscience, including semi-naturalistic, automated behavioral assessment in transgenic mouse strains, two-photon microscopy in behaving animals, and chemo- and wireless optogenetics to discover how changes in the activity of the main cell types composing the circuits of the PFC involved in encoding social familiarity reflect the transition from out-group reserve to in-group fellowship.
- Funding: 1 232 370 PLN
- Start date: 2021-12-06
- End date: 2024-12-05
- Status: Ongoing
The role of SOM+ interneurons in the prefrontal cortex in regulation of emotional contagion
Polish National Science Center, 2019/35/N/NZ4/01948 PRELUDIUM, grant to Tomasz Nikolaev
The aim of this project is to study the neuronal correlates of emotional contagion in mice. To do that we plan to use use three different behavioural paradigms: the Imminent Transfer of Fear (ITF), Remote Transfer of Fear (RTF) and Emotion Recognition Task (ERT) to check and compare different aspects of emotional contagion. It has been implicated, that neuronal circuits within the prefrontal cortex (PFC), more precisely a subset of interneurons in this area, play a key role in social emotion processing. Our own results, obtained recently using the ITF protocol, suggest that somatostatin positive (SOM+) PFC interneurons become highly activated during observational fear learning. In my project I would like to test whether SOM+ interneurons in the PFC also respond to the Remote Transfer of Fear (in the safe environment of a homecage) and during Emotion Recognition Task. I hypothesize that these interneurons are important for all forms of social emotion transfer and will have increased activity in both of these situations. The aim of the second part of the project is to investigate the role of SOM+ neurons in emotional contagion. I plan to assess that with the use of chemogenetics. I argue that inhibiting SOM+ neurons, while animals are performing each of the proposed behavioural tests, will inhibit transfer of emotion and impair the emotional contagion.
- Funding: PLN 139,200
- Start date: 2020-07-08
- End date: 2022-07-07
CoSI Functional connectomics of the amygdala in social interactions of different valence
Project is carried out within the ERC Starting grant to: Dr. Ewelina Knapska
The aim is to identify neural circuitry underlying social interactions of different emotional valence. This goal will be achieved by: (1) Characterizing functional anatomy of neuronal circuits in the amygdala underlying socially transferred emotions; (2) Examining role of the identified neuronal subpopulations in control of social behaviors; (3) Verifying role of matrix metalloproteinase-9-dependent neuronal subpopulations within the amygdala in social motivation.
- Funding: 1 312 500 €
- Start date: 2016-12-01
- End date: 2022-08-31
Social sharing of emotions in semi-natural settings of the Eco-HAB system
Polish National Science Center, 2017/27/B/NZ4/02025 OPUS 14, grant to: Dr. Ewelina Knapska
We will model sharing of positive and negative emotions in mice living in a social group. To this end we will use a unique, naturalistic setting of Eco-HAB, the automated system allowing for automated measurement and analysis of social preference and social interactions in mice we have developed. Mouse models offer a unique opportunity to get insight into mechanisms of emotional contagion by manipulating neuronal activity, which is not possible in human studies for ethical reasons. To manipulate the neural circuits involved in emotional transfer we will use optogenetics and the fully implantable miniaturized optoelectronic device compatible with the Eco-HAB system we are developing. These will allow for remote activation and thus characterize the function of neuronal circuits in the brain that control socially shared emotions.
- Funding: 1 299 500 PLN
- Start date: 2018-08-27
- End date: 2022-08-26
Assessment of synaptic plasticity impairments within the amygdalar complex in mouse models of autism spectrum disorder
Polish National Science Center, 2015/18/E/NZ4/00600 SONATA-BIS 5, grant to: Dr. Ksenia Meyza
To establish the role of neuronal plasticity within the amygdalar complex in the development of impaired social interactions in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) we will look for morphological evidence of impaired neuronal plasticity in the amygdalar complex of Fmr1KO mice, mice subjected to local manipulation of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) level and the idiopathic mouse model of ASD, the BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J mice and establish whether functional plasticity is impaired as a consequence of the morphological aberration.
- Funding: 1 050 000 PLN
- Start date: 2016-09-01
- End date: 2022-08-31
Socially acquired information about the food localization and the brain representation of the space
Polish National Science Center, 2018/31/N/NZ4/02853 PRELUDIUM, grant to Mateusz Kostecki
- Funding: 202 000 PLN
- Start date: 2019-07-11
- End date: 2022-07-10