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Relationship: 384
Title
Altered, Neurophysiology leads to Cognitive Function, Decreased
Upstream event
Downstream event
AOPs Referencing Relationship
| AOP Name | Adjacency | Weight of Evidence | Quantitative Understanding | Point of Contact | Author Status | OECD Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XX Inhibition of Sodium Iodide Symporter and Subsequent Adverse Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Mammals | adjacent | Moderate | Low | Evgeniia Kazymova (send email) | Not under active development |
Taxonomic Applicability
Sex Applicability
Life Stage Applicability
Cognitive function and impairments thereof are measured using behavioral techniques. It is well accepted that these alterations in behavior are the result of structural or functional changes in neurocircuitry. Functional impairments are often measured using field potentials of critical synaptic circuits in hippocampus and cortex. A number of studies have been performed in rodent models that reveal deficits in both excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission in the hippocampus as a result of developmental thyroid insufficiency.
A well established model of memory at the synaptic levels is known as long-term potentiation (LTP). Deficiencies in LTP are generally regarded as potential substrates of learning and memory impairments.
| ID | Experimental Design | Species | Upstream Observation | Downstream Observation | Citation (first author, year) | Notes |
|---|
| Title | First Author | Biological Plausibility |
Dose Concordance |
Temporal Concordance |
Incidence Concordance |
|---|
Biological Plausibility
Dose Concordance Evidence
Temporal Concordance Evidence
Incidence Concordance Evidence
Uncertainties and Inconsistencies
The direct relationship of alterations in synaptic function and specific cognitive deficits is difficult to ascertain given the many forms that learning and memory can take and the complexity of synaptic interactions in even the simplest brain circuit. Linking of neurophysiological assessments to learning and memory processes have, by necessity, been made across simple monosynaptic connections and largely focused on the hippocampus. Alterations in synaptic function, however, have been found in the absence of behavioral impairments (e.g., Gilbert et al., 2013; 2007). This may result from: 1) Measuring only one component in the complex brain circuitry that underlies 'cognition' 2) Behavioral tests typically used in large dose-response studies allow for processing of large numbers of animals and may not be sufficiently sensitive to detect subtle cognitive impairments 3) Behavioral tasks may be solved by a number of differnt strategies - animals develop alernative strategies as a consequence of developmental insult to compensate for impaired ability.
There is very limited information on the degree of change in synaptic activity required to alter cognitive behaviors. This is a result of the diversity of methods for measuring both physiology and cognitive function, that hamper cross-study analyses.
This highlights the need to develop empirical data based models of this key relationship.
Response-response Relationship
Time-scale
Known Feedforward/Feedback loops influencing this KER
Synaptic transmission and plasticity are acheived via mechanisms common across taxonomies. LTP has been recorded in aplysia, lizards, turtles, birds, mice, guinea pigs, rabbits and rats.