Journal article
NR2B subunit in the prefrontal cortex: A double-edged sword for working memory function and psychiatric disorders
Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews, v 56, pp 127-138
Sep 2015
PMID: 26143512
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is a brain region featured with working memory function. The exact mechanism of how working memory operates within the PFC circuitry is unknown, but persistent neuronal firing recorded from prefrontal neurons during a working memory task is proposed to be the neural correlate of this mnemonic encoding. The PFC appears to be specialized for sustaining persistent firing, with N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, especially slow-decay NR2B subunits, playing an essential role in the maintenance of sustained activity and normal working memory function. However, the NR2B subunit serves as a double-edged sword for PFC function. Because of its slow kinetics, NR2B endows the PFC with not only "neural psychic" properties, but also susceptibilities for neuroexcitotoxicity and psychiatric disorders. This review aims to clarify the interplay among working memory, the PFC, and NMDA receptors; demonstrate the importance of NR2B in the maintenance of persistent activity; understand the risks and vulnerabilities of how NR2B is related to the development of neuropsychiatric disorders; identify gaps that currently exist in our understanding of these processes; and provide insights regarding future directions that may clarify these issues. We conclude that the PFC is a specialized brain region with distinct delayed maturation, unique neuronal circuitry, and characteristic NMDA receptor function. The unique properties and development of NMDA receptors, especially enrichment of NR2B subunits, endow the PFC with not only the capability to generate sustained activity for working memory, but also serves as a major vulnerability to environmental insults and risk factors for psychiatric disorders.
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Details
- Title
- NR2B subunit in the prefrontal cortex: A double-edged sword for working memory function and psychiatric disorders
- Creators
- Sarah A Monaco - Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 Queen Lane, Room 243, Philadelphia, PA 19129, United StatesYelena Gulchina - Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 Queen Lane, Room 243, Philadelphia, PA 19129, United StatesWen-Jun Gao - Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 Queen Lane, Room 243, Philadelphia, PA 19129, United States. Electronic address: wgao@drexelmed.edu
- Publication Details
- Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews, v 56, pp 127-138
- Publisher
- Elsevier; United States
- Grant note
- R01MH085666 / NIMH NIH HHS R01 MH085666 / NIMH NIH HHS
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Neurobiology and Anatomy
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000361578500010
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-84952036964
- Other Identifier
- 991014878404304721
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InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Web of Science research areas
- Behavioral Sciences
- Neurosciences