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Science On The Cutting Edge from page 20 a postsynaptic neuron (the neuron receiving the signal)
triggers molecular changes. First, neurotransmitters
into how science benefits society through the process of drug released by the presynaptic neuron bind to receptors on
discovery. This gift will enable us to continue to provide this the postsynaptic neuron. When neurotransmitters bind
legacy program for years to come.” to these receptors, channels open that allow calcium
For nearly 20 years, the institute’s high school internship ions to enter the neuron. The influx of calcium induces
program has trained more than 200 students. A bedrock for Timing Is Everything: an increase of calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II
community education and outreach initiatives at the institute, the (CaMKII) enzymes. These enzymes play a pivotal role
Kenan Fellows High School internship program now becomes How Our Experiences in recruiting additional receptors to the synapse. More
part of the newly named Glenn W. Bailey STEM Education Become Memories receptors lead to increased sensitivity and stronger
Outreach Programs. It will continue to provide unparalleled synapses. As such, neurons that fire together become
research opportunities for rising juniors and seniors from Palm Genomics And Regenerative Medicine increasingly connected over time.
Beach and Martin counties. During the nine-week, full-time Canadian psychologist Donald Hebb first proposed the
experience, students immerse themselves in real biomedical By William A. concept that “neurons that fire together wire together” in
research under the supervision of a Wertheim UF Scripps Haseltine, Ph.D. 1949. Activating just one neuron in an engram activates
Institute scientist. Memories are the entire network and triggers a memory. It was first
The new gift will also help expand the institute’s kindergarten created in a matter thought that neurons must fire within milliseconds to wire
through collegiate educational outreach programs, which of seconds. From together. Now, behavioral timescale learning suggests that
include school visits, field trips, science night participation and the moment the a broader time window may exist, extending seconds or
other events. Miller notes that the new funding will open more brain receives a even minutes. This emerging theory revolutionizes our
collaborations with local and university-level partners, as well. sensory input (i.e. understanding of how neural connections influence our
The expansion means more opportunities for area teachers sight, sound, smell, memory.
including Gladys Mateo-Almodovar, M.Ed.L. An eighth-grade etc.), neurons across In their study, Jain et. al manipulated the time
science teacher at Okeeheelee Middle School in West Palm the brain activate. Memories are created in a matter between sensory inputs to replicate behavioral timescale
Beach, Mateo-Almodovar worked last summer with biochemist Connections formed of seconds. Photo by Getty Images. learning. Specialized biosensors enabled the team to
Thomas Kodadek, Ph.D. The experience gave the long-time be t we e n t he se observe microscopic changes at individual synapses
teacher an in-depth look at emerging research to share with her neurons give rise to dynamic neural networks called within the hippocampus. Their first observation found
students. engrams. For example, when exploring a new city, an that disrupting the function of CaMKII enzymes in the
“This program has been of great benefit to me in my engram forms and continuously updates as you walk long-term potentiation pathway halted learning. This led
professional life,” Mateo-Almodovar said. “I used it to reinforce down various streets and turn corners. The moment you researchers to speculate that behavioral timescale learning
the importance of studying sciences, and, in the process, motivate finally encounter the landmark you have been searching may be mediated by the activity of CaMKII enzymes.
my students to study professions related to this field. I can say for, there is a burst of neural activity. Neurons that were However, even with highly sensitive biosensors, Jain
that it is one of the best work experiences I have ever had.” activated seconds prior also increase their firing. Your et. al were unable to detect CaMKII activation during the
Mateo-Almodovar credits researchers’ visit to her school’s brain consolidates this information into a mental map of simulation experiment. To their surprise, the activation of
recent Science Night for motivating nearly 120 students. how to get to the landmark. Engram formation, therefore, CaMKII appeared delayed, occurring tens of seconds after
“We look forward to collaborating with even more educators depends not only on neurons firing simultaneously but also learning. In addition to influencing synaptic plasticity,
in our local communities to encourage young minds to explore on those that activate immediately before and after. This the delayed activation also seemed to induce signaling
science, nurture their curiosity, and think creatively about is known as behavioral timescale learning. Researchers at changes in other parts of the neuron. Increased activation
everyday problems,” said Rosie Albarran-Zeckler, Ph.D., the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience now may of these enzymes was especially apparent in dendrite
manager of academic support services. have begun to uncover how behavioral timescale learning branches, suggesting that this enzyme may play a role in
The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute also builds the pipeline integrates memories across several seconds. processing information within dendrites receiving these
of tomorrow’s biomedical leaders through its graduate program. When a neuron activates, an action potential is generated. inputs. These surprising findings reveal that CAMKII
Establishment of the Glenn W. and Cornelia T. Bailey Endowed First, an electrical or chemical input stimulates a dendritic activation may be part of a larger mechanism that primes
Graduate Fellowship enables the institute to nurture additional branch on the neuron. If the stimulus is strong enough, a neurons to integrate repeated inputs.
promising doctoral students. Reserved for full-time Ph.D. branch becomes activated. The signal travels through the These processes are so fast that they seem to be
candidates, the competitive three-year fellowship is awarded to cell body and into the neuron’s axon. The activated axon instantaneous. Behavioral timescale learning argues
second- and third-year students, enabling them to pursue their releases chemical messengers called neurotransmitters to that these small delays, however, have tremendous
work with greater focus. activate other cells in the network. Neural activation lasts implications for how our brains consolidate multiple
just two milliseconds before the cell resets to allow another information over time into a memory. Future studies are
action potential to be generated. needed to fully uncover these underlying mechanisms.
Generating action potentials is the basis of all brain This will not only help us to better understand learning,
activity. During learning, action potentials transmit signals but perhaps may reveal new approaches for preventing
that encode new experiences. A key region involved in this memory disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease. The
process is the hippocampus. Here, the brain consolidates next time you forget something, remember—it could be
short-term memories into long-term memory. Jain et. al, a sign that our brains are working in ways we don’t fully
therefore, began their study by isolating hippocampal understand yet. (Forbes)
tissue samples from a group of mice. Using electrical Dr. William A. Haseltine
stimulation, the team induced action potentials and is a distinguished scientist,
measured changes that occur naturally during learning. To philanthropist, author, and
mimic behavioral timescale learning, Jain et. al separated entrepreneur renowned
each electrical input by approximately one second, for his pioneering work in
representing the extended period for integration into an genomics and regenerative
During a recent field trip to The Wertheim UF Scripps engram. medicine. A former Harvard
Institute, middle school students from Emerald Cove’s Pre-IT When a new memory is being formed, action potentials Medical School professor, he
Academy in Wellington, Florida learn about the medicinal repeatedly fire from one neuron to another. Increased has made many significant
properties of some compounds produced by bacteria. firing strengthens their connections, making them more contributions to cancer and
efficient and more likely to fire together in the future. HIV/AIDS research. He coined “Regenerative Medicine”
The first Glenn W. and Cornelia T. Bailey Fellow, neuroscience This process is driven by synaptic plasticity. Synapses in 1999, highlighting his influence in the field. Dr.
student Chu-Ting Chang, began her rotation in 2021. Her research are gaps between neurons that facilitate the transfer of Haseltine founded Human Genome Sciences and served
focuses on understanding how cell receptors interact with many information. When a neuron receives repeated inputs, as chair and CEO. He has a successful career in
medications. Because of the additional funding, two additional its synapse undergoes structural changes that make it biotechnology, founding a number of companies, with
Bailey fellows will be announced this fall. easier for the neuron to depolarize and produce an action several products approved by global regulatory agencies.
“The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute is a special place where potential. This type of synaptic plasticity is called long- He founded ACCESS Health International, focusing on
scientists can pursue incredible, life-changing research that will term potentiation. improving global healthcare access. His prolific writing
affect humankind,” said Laura Solt, Ph.D., associate dean of Long-term potentiation is crucial for forming includes over 250 academic articles and numerous books
the institute’s graduate program. “As a former fellow myself, I long-term memories. Repeated stimulation from a like My Lifelong Fight Against Disease. Dr. Haseltine is a
know firsthand how this level of support energizes our efforts. presynaptic neuron (the neuron sending the signal) to frequent media contributor, sharing insights on healthcare
I am deeply appreciative to the Bailey Foundation trustees for challenges and innovations. His work has earned him
their enduring philanthropy.” accolades, including being named one of TIME’s “25
The Bailey Foundation’s longstanding support is a testament Most Influential Global Business Executives.”
to its founders’ passion for science, technology, engineering
and math education and medical research. Glenn W. Bailey
was an accomplished businessman and U.S. Navy veteran
whose engineering career saw him lead several manufacturing
companies, eventually establishing the Bairnco Corporation to
invest in promising companies by building their management
and financial skills. Captain’s was established in 1980 servicing
Supporting the Wertheim UF Scripps Institute since 2022, Palm Beach County and is a privately
the Bailey Foundation’s partnership is tangible recognition of owned and managed company.
the work accomplished by all at the institute. Miller notes that Captain’s is committed to providing
dependable, reliable and professional
this recognition is especially meaningful to those faculty and ground transportation to and from all
researchers who mentor the next generation of scientists at all South Florida Airports and Seaports.
levels, from elementary through graduate school. To reserve your vehicle: PBCVH212
Learn more at https://wertheim.scripps.ufl.edu/education/ Illustration of long-term potentiation in synapse during 561-798-2180 or 800-634-7890 www.captainsairport.com
glenn-w-bailey-stem-education-and-outreach-programs/. learning. Photo by Alan Woodruff/QBI.