A recent study by WA researchers provides new insights into the use of static magnetic stimulation (SMS) as a non-invasive method to investigate and promote neuroplasticity.
“Neuroplasticity, the remarkable ability of the brain to reorganise itself in response to various experiences and stimuli, is an exciting and expanding field of research,” said brain plasticity researcher Dr Jamie Beros (Perron Institute and The University of Western Australia).
“While great progress has been made in understanding the underlying mechanisms, there is still much to learn about the ways in which activity is regulated in the brain in healthy and diseased contexts, the different types of brain plasticity, and how they relate to cell function and behaviours.
“Non-invasive forms of brain stimulation that modulate neural activity have great potential as a tool to study the mechanisms of neuroplasticity, and as a treatment for neurological disorders.
“There is growing evidence linking dysfunction of the axon initial segment (AIS) to numerous neurological diseases.
“The results from our in vitro investigations demonstrate that sustained application of SMS can induce structural changes in the AIS and may provide a cheaper and simpler alternative to other methods that are used to drive AIS plasticity (e.g. optogenetics). This identifies SMS as a useful tool to further probe AIS plasticity mechanisms,” Dr Beros said.
Dr Beros is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Healthy Brain Aging and Repair group led by Dr Alex Tang, and the Brain Plasticity Research Group led by Associate Professor Jennifer Rodger, both at UWA and the Perron Institute.
Other contributors to the recent research article published in Nature journal Scientific Reports are: equal first author PhD candidate Emily King (Perron Institute and UWA), Dr Darren Clarke (Universite de Montreal, Quebec and Perron Institute alumni), Liz Jaeschke-Angi (UWA School of Biological Sciences), A/Professor Rodger and senior author Dr Tang.
Image caption: L-R Dr Beros, Dr Tang, A/Prof Rodger and Emily King.