The 48th Annual Meeting of the Japan Neuroscience Society

Moderator: Hiroaki Wake (Nagoya University )

Co-sponsored by NARISHIGE SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENT LAB.

Associative synaptic plasticity is fundamental to cognitive function. Dendritic spines serve as direct contact points between excitatory axons and postsynaptic dendrites, undergoing rapid structural changes that modulate both their glutamate sensitivity and presynaptic exocytosis through mechanical interactions. We have developed a novel chemogenetic approach to manipulate spine function and have discovered its critical role in regulating both sleep and wakefulness, as well as various cognitive processes.