Neuroscience lab studying how neural circuits mediate behavior
Publications List
Zhou, J, Hormigo, S, Busel, N, Castro-Alamancos, MA. The Orienting Reflex Reveals Behavioral States Set by Demanding Contexts: Role of the Superior Colliculus. J Neurosci. 2023;43 (10):1778-1796. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1643-22.2023. PubMed PMID:36750370 PubMed Central PMC10010463.
Castro-Alamancos, MA. A System to Easily Manage Metadata in Biomedical Research Labs Based on Open-source Software. Bio Protoc. 2022;12 (9):e4404. doi: 10.21769/BioProtoc.4404. PubMed PMID:35800459 PubMed Central PMC9090580.
Hormigo, S, Zhou, J, Castro-Alamancos, MA. Bidirectional Control of Orienting Behavior by the Substantia Nigra Pars Reticulata: Distinct Significance of Head and Whisker Movements. eNeuro. 2021;8 (5):. doi: 10.1523/ENEURO.0165-21.2021. PubMed PMID:34544763 PubMed Central PMC8532345.
Hormigo, S, Shanmugasundaram, B, Zhou, J, Castro-Alamancos, MA. A Signaled Locomotor Avoidance Action Is Fully Represented in the Neural Activity of the Midbrain Tegmentum. J Neurosci. 2021;41 (19):4262-4275. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0027-21.2021. PubMed PMID:33789917 PubMed Central PMC8143194.
Hormigo, S, Zhou, J, Chabbert, D, Shanmugasundaram, B, Castro-Alamancos, MA. Basal Ganglia Output Has a Permissive Non-Driving Role in a Signaled Locomotor Action Mediated by the Midbrain. J Neurosci. 2021;41 (7):1529-1552. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1067-20.2020. PubMed PMID:33328292 PubMed Central PMC7896017.
Hormigo, S, Zhou, J, Castro-Alamancos, MA. Zona Incerta GABAergic Output Controls a Signaled Locomotor Action in the Midbrain Tegmentum. eNeuro. 2020;7 (1):. doi: 10.1523/ENEURO.0390-19.2020. PubMed PMID:32041743 PubMed Central PMC7053170.
Hormigo, S, Vega-Flores, G, Rovira, V, Castro-Alamancos, MA. Circuits That Mediate Expression of Signaled Active Avoidance Converge in the Pedunculopontine Tegmentum. J Neurosci. 2019;39 (23):4576-4594. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0049-19.2019. PubMed PMID:30936242 PubMed Central PMC6554632.
Anon. Correction: Favero and Castro-Alamancos, "Synaptic Cooperativity Regulates Persistent Network Activity in Neocortex". J Neurosci. 2017;37 (13):3734. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0642-17.2017. PubMed PMID:28356397 PubMed Central PMC6596915.
Castro-Alamancos, MA, Favero, M. Whisker-related afferents in superior colliculus. J Neurophysiol. 2016;115 (5):2265-79. doi: 10.1152/jn.00028.2016. PubMed PMID:26864754 PubMed Central PMC4922452.
Castro-Alamancos, MA, Favero, M. NMDA receptors are the basis for persistent network activity in neocortex slices. J Neurophysiol. 2015;113 (10):3816-26. doi: 10.1152/jn.00090.2015. PubMed PMID:25878152 PubMed Central PMC4473514.
Castro-Alamancos, MA, Bezdudnaya, T. Modulation of artificial whisking related signals in barrel cortex. J Neurophysiol. 2015;113 (5):1287-301. doi: 10.1152/jn.00809.2014. PubMed PMID:25505118 PubMed Central PMC4346718.
Castro-Alamancos, MA, Gulati, T. Neuromodulators produce distinct activated states in neocortex. J Neurosci. 2014;34 (37):12353-67. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1858-14.2014. PubMed PMID:25209276 PubMed Central PMC4160772.
Bezdudnaya, T, Castro-Alamancos, MA. Neuromodulation of whisking related neural activity in superior colliculus. J Neurosci. 2014;34 (22):7683-95. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0444-14.2014. PubMed PMID:24872572 PubMed Central PMC4035528.
Favero, M, Castro-Alamancos, MA. Synaptic cooperativity regulates persistent network activity in neocortex. J Neurosci. 2013;33 (7):3151-63. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4424-12.2013. PubMed PMID:23407969 PubMed Central PMC3711603.
Favero, M, Varghese, G, Castro-Alamancos, MA. The state of somatosensory cortex during neuromodulation. J Neurophysiol. 2012;108 (4):1010-24. doi: 10.1152/jn.00256.2012. PubMed PMID:22623484 PubMed Central PMC3424075.
Bezdudnaya, T, Castro-Alamancos, MA. Superior colliculus cells sensitive to active touch and texture during whisking. J Neurophysiol. 2011;106 (1):332-46. doi: 10.1152/jn.00072.2011. PubMed PMID:21525369 PubMed Central PMC3129730.
Hirata, A, Castro-Alamancos, MA. Effects of cortical activation on sensory responses in barrel cortex. J Neurophysiol. 2011;105 (4):1495-505. doi: 10.1152/jn.01085.2010. PubMed PMID:21273311 PubMed Central PMC3075282.
Cohen, JD, Castro-Alamancos, MA. Behavioral state dependency of neural activity and sensory (whisker) responses in superior colliculus. J Neurophysiol. 2010;104 (3):1661-72. doi: 10.1152/jn.00340.2010. PubMed PMID:20610783 PubMed Central PMC2944696.
Cohen, JD, Castro-Alamancos, MA. Neural correlates of active avoidance behavior in superior colliculus. J Neurosci. 2010;30 (25):8502-11. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1497-10.2010. PubMed PMID:20573897 PubMed Central PMC2905738.
Cohen, JD, Castro-Alamancos, MA. Detection of low salience whisker stimuli requires synergy of tectal and thalamic sensory relays. J Neurosci. 2010;30 (6):2245-56. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5746-09.2010. PubMed PMID:20147551 PubMed Central PMC2823802.
Hirata, A, Castro-Alamancos, MA. Neocortex network activation and deactivation states controlled by the thalamus. J Neurophysiol. 2010;103 (3):1147-57. doi: 10.1152/jn.00955.2009. PubMed PMID:20053845 PubMed Central PMC2887623.
Rigas, P, Castro-Alamancos, MA. Impact of persistent cortical activity (up States) on intracortical and thalamocortical synaptic inputs. J Neurophysiol. 2009;102 (1):119-31. doi: 10.1152/jn.00126.2009. PubMed PMID:19403750 PubMed Central PMC2712261.
Hirata, A, Aguilar, J, Castro-Alamancos, MA. Influence of subcortical inhibition on barrel cortex receptive fields. J Neurophysiol. 2009;102 (1):437-50. doi: 10.1152/jn.00277.2009. PubMed PMID:19403743 PubMed Central PMC2712267.
Castro-Alamancos, MA. Cortical up and activated states: implications for sensory information processing. Neuroscientist. 2009;15 (6):625-34. doi: 10.1177/1073858409333074. PubMed PMID:19321459 PubMed Central PMC7701994.
Cohen, JD, Hirata, A, Castro-Alamancos, MA. Vibrissa sensation in superior colliculus: wide-field sensitivity and state-dependent cortical feedback. J Neurosci. 2008;28 (44):11205-20. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2999-08.2008. PubMed PMID:18971463 PubMed Central PMC2587996.
Hirata, A, Castro-Alamancos, MA. Cortical transformation of wide-field (multiwhisker) sensory responses. J Neurophysiol. 2008;100 (1):358-70. doi: 10.1152/jn.90538.2008. PubMed PMID:18480364 PubMed Central PMC2493475.
Cohen, JD, Castro-Alamancos, MA. Early sensory pathways for detection of fearful conditioned stimuli: tectal and thalamic relays. J Neurosci. 2007;27 (29):7762-76. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1124-07.2007. PubMed PMID:17634370 PubMed Central PMC3881290.
Castro-Alamancos, MA, Tawara-Hirata, Y. Area-specific resonance of excitatory networks in neocortex: control by outward currents. Epilepsia. 2007;48 (8):1572-84. doi: 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2007.01113.x. PubMed PMID:17484757 .
Rigas, P, Castro-Alamancos, MA. Thalamocortical Up states: differential effects of intrinsic and extrinsic cortical inputs on persistent activity. J Neurosci. 2007;27 (16):4261-72. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0003-07.2007. PubMed PMID:17442810 PubMed Central PMC6672324.
Castro-Alamancos, MA. What generates whisking? Focus on: "The whisking rhythm generator: a novel mammalian network for the generation of movement". J Neurophysiol. 2007;97 (3):1883-4. doi: 10.1152/jn.01358.2006. PubMed PMID:17202236 .
Castro-Alamancos, MA, Rigas, P, Tawara-Hirata, Y. Resonance (approximately 10 Hz) of excitatory networks in motor cortex: effects of voltage-dependent ion channel blockers. J Physiol. 2007;578 (Pt 1):173-91. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2006.119016. PubMed PMID:16945964 PubMed Central PMC2075114.
Castro-Alamancos, MA. Vibrissa myoclonus (rhythmic retractions) driven by resonance of excitatory networks in motor cortex. J Neurophysiol. 2006;96 (4):1691-8. doi: 10.1152/jn.00454.2006. PubMed PMID:16807344 .
Hirata, A, Aguilar, J, Castro-Alamancos, MA. Noradrenergic activation amplifies bottom-up and top-down signal-to-noise ratios in sensory thalamus. J Neurosci. 2006;26 (16):4426-36. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5298-05.2006. PubMed PMID:16624962 PubMed Central PMC6674001.
Hirata, A, Castro-Alamancos, MA. Relief of synaptic depression produces long-term enhancement in thalamocortical networks. J Neurophysiol. 2006;95 (4):2479-91. doi: 10.1152/jn.01145.2005. PubMed PMID:16381803 .
Aguilar, JR, Castro-Alamancos, MA. Spatiotemporal gating of sensory inputs in thalamus during quiescent and activated states. J Neurosci. 2005;25 (47):10990-1002. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3229-05.2005. PubMed PMID:16306412 PubMed Central PMC6725889.
Castro-Alamancos, MA. Dynamics of sensory thalamocortical synaptic networks during information processing states. Prog Neurobiol. 2004;74 (4):213-47. doi: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2004.09.002. PubMed PMID:15556288 .
Cohen, JD, Castro-Alamancos, MA. Skilled motor learning does not enhance long-term depression in the motor cortex in vivo. J Neurophysiol. 2005;93 (3):1486-97. doi: 10.1152/jn.00958.2004. PubMed PMID:15525804 .
Rigas, P, Castro-Alamancos, MA. Leading role of the piriform cortex over the neocortex in the generation of spontaneous interictal spikes during block of GABA(A) receptors. Neuroscience. 2004;124 (4):953-61. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2003.11.034. PubMed PMID:15026135 .
Castro-Alamancos, MA. Absence of rapid sensory adaptation in neocortex during information processing states. Neuron. 2004;41 (3):455-64. doi: 10.1016/s0896-6273(03)00853-5. PubMed PMID:14766183 .
Castro-Alamancos, MA. [Thalamocortical dynamics: how do the thalamus and the neocortex communicate during the processing of information?]. Rev Neurol. ;36 (7):643-9. . PubMed PMID:12666046 .
Oldford, E, Castro-Alamancos, MA. Input-specific effects of acetylcholine on sensory and intracortical evoked responses in the "barrel cortex" in vivo. Neuroscience. 2003;117 (3):769-78. doi: 10.1016/s0306-4522(02)00663-2. PubMed PMID:12617980 .
Castro-Alamancos, MA. Role of thalamocortical sensory suppression during arousal: focusing sensory inputs in neocortex. J Neurosci. 2002;22 (22):9651-5. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.22-22-09651.2002. PubMed PMID:12427819 PubMed Central PMC6757812.
Castro-Alamancos, MA, Rigas, P. Synchronized oscillations caused by disinhibition in rodent neocortex are generated by recurrent synaptic activity mediated by AMPA receptors. J Physiol. 2002;542 (Pt 2):567-81. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2002.019059. PubMed PMID:12122154 PubMed Central PMC2290428.
Castro-Alamancos, MA, Oldford, E. Cortical sensory suppression during arousal is due to the activity-dependent depression of thalamocortical synapses. J Physiol. 2002;541 (Pt 1):319-31. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2002.016857. PubMed PMID:12015438 PubMed Central PMC2290309.
Castro-Alamancos, MA. Different temporal processing of sensory inputs in the rat thalamus during quiescent and information processing states in vivo. J Physiol. 2002;539 (Pt 2):567-78. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2001.013283. PubMed PMID:11882688 PubMed Central PMC2290158.
Castro-Alamancos, MA. Properties of primary sensory (lemniscal) synapses in the ventrobasal thalamus and the relay of high-frequency sensory inputs. J Neurophysiol. 2002;87 (2):946-53. doi: 10.1152/jn.00426.2001. PubMed PMID:11826059 .
Paus, T, Castro-Alamancos, MA, Petrides, M. Cortico-cortical connectivity of the human mid-dorsolateral frontal cortex and its modulation by repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation. Eur J Neurosci. 2001;14 (8):1405-11. doi: 10.1046/j.0953-816x.2001.01757.x. PubMed PMID:11703468 .
Castro-Alamancos, MA, Calcagnotto, ME. High-pass filtering of corticothalamic activity by neuromodulators released in the thalamus during arousal: in vitro and in vivo. J Neurophysiol. 2001;85 (4):1489-97. doi: 10.1152/jn.2001.85.4.1489. PubMed PMID:11287472 .
Castro-Alamancos, MA, Connors, BW. Distinct forms of short-term plasticity at excitatory synapses of hippocampus and neocortex. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1997;94 (8):4161-6. doi: 10.1073/pnas.94.8.4161. PubMed PMID:9108122 PubMed Central PMC20585.
Castro-Alamancos, MA. The augmenting response, a form of short-term plasticity in the neocortex that is modulated by behavioral state. Mol Psychiatry. 1996;1 (6):424-6. . PubMed PMID:9154239 .
Castro-Alamancos, MA, Connors, BW. Cellular mechanisms of the augmenting response: short-term plasticity in a thalamocortical pathway. J Neurosci. 1996;16 (23):7742-56. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.16-23-07742.1996. PubMed PMID:8922430 PubMed Central PMC6579081.
Castro-Alamancos, MA, Connors, BW. Spatiotemporal properties of short-term plasticity sensorimotor thalamocortical pathways of the rat. J Neurosci. 1996;16 (8):2767-79. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.16-08-02767.1996. PubMed PMID:8786452 PubMed Central PMC6578742.
Castro-Alamancos, MA, Connors, BW. Short-term plasticity of a thalamocortical pathway dynamically modulated by behavioral state. Science. 1996;272 (5259):274-7. doi: 10.1126/science.272.5259.274. PubMed PMID:8602513 .
Castro-Alamancos, MA, Connors, BW. Short-term synaptic enhancement and long-term potentiation in neocortex. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1996;93 (3):1335-9. doi: 10.1073/pnas.93.3.1335. PubMed PMID:8577765 PubMed Central PMC40081.
Castro-Alamancos, MA, Arevalo, MA, Torres-Aleman, I. Involvement of protein kinase C and nitric oxide in the modulation by insulin-like growth factor-I of glutamate-induced GABA release in the cerebellum. Neuroscience. 1996;70 (4):843-7. doi: 10.1016/0306-4522(95)00472-6. PubMed PMID:8848170 .
Castro-Alamancos, MA, Borrel, J. Functional recovery of forelimb response capacity after forelimb primary motor cortex damage in the rat is due to the reorganization of adjacent areas of cortex. Neuroscience. 1995;68 (3):793-805. doi: 10.1016/0306-4522(95)00178-l. PubMed PMID:8577374 .
Castro-Alamancos, MA, Donoghue, JP, Connors, BW. Different forms of synaptic plasticity in somatosensory and motor areas of the neocortex. J Neurosci. 1995;15 (7 Pt 2):5324-33. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.15-07-05324.1995. PubMed PMID:7623155 PubMed Central PMC6577900.
Castro-Alamancos, MA, Borrell, J. Contribution of NMDA and nonNMDA glutamate receptors to synchronized excitation and cortical output in the primary motor cortex of the rat. Brain Res Bull. 1995;37 (5):539-43. doi: 10.1016/0361-9230(95)00059-n. PubMed PMID:7633903 .
Castro-Alamancos, MA, Torres-Aleman, I. Learning of the conditioned eye-blink response is impaired by an antisense insulin-like growth factor I oligonucleotide. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1994;91 (21):10203-7. doi: 10.1073/pnas.91.21.10203. PubMed PMID:7937862 PubMed Central PMC44986.
Castro-Alamancos, MA, Borrell, J. Scopolamine induces recovery of shuttle box avoidance behavior after frontal cortex ablation. Behav Brain Res. 1994;62 (2):135-41. doi: 10.1016/0166-4328(94)90020-5. PubMed PMID:7945963 .
Castro-Alamancos, MA, Torres-Aleman, I. Long-term depression of glutamate-induced gamma-aminobutyric acid release in cerebellum by insulin-like growth factor I. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1993;90 (15):7386-90. doi: 10.1073/pnas.90.15.7386. PubMed PMID:8346260 PubMed Central PMC47142.
Castro-Alamancos, MA, Borrell, J. Active avoidance behavior using pontine nucleus stimulation as a conditioned stimulus in the rat. Behav Brain Res. 1993;55 (1):109-12. doi: 10.1016/0166-4328(93)90013-g. PubMed PMID:8329123 .
Castro-Alamancos, MA, Borrell, J. Motor activity induced by disinhibition of the primary motor cortex of the rat is blocked by a non-NMDA glutamate receptor antagonist. Neurosci Lett. 1993;150 (2):183-6. doi: 10.1016/0304-3940(93)90531-o. PubMed PMID:8097030 .
Castro-Alamancos, MA, Borrell, J. Reversal of paw preference after ablation of the preferred forelimb primary motor cortex representation of the rat depends on the size of the forelimb representation. Neuroscience. 1993;52 (3):637-44. doi: 10.1016/0306-4522(93)90412-9. PubMed PMID:8450964 .
Castro-Alamancos, MA, Borrell, J. Facilitation and recovery of shuttle box avoidance behavior after frontal cortex lesions is induced by a contingent electrical stimulation in the ventral tegmental nucleus. Behav Brain Res. 1992;50 (1-2):69-76. doi: 10.1016/s0166-4328(05)80288-8. PubMed PMID:1333223 .
Castro-Alamancos, MA, Borrell, J, García-Segura, LM. Performance in an escape task induces fos-like immunoreactivity in a specific area of the motor cortex of the rat. Neuroscience. 1992;49 (1):157-62. doi: 10.1016/0306-4522(92)90083-e. PubMed PMID:1407543 .
Castro-Alamancos, MA, García-Segura, LM, Borrell, J. Transfer of Function to a Specific Area of the Cortex After Induced Recovery from Brain Damage. Eur J Neurosci. 1992;4 (9):853-863. doi: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.1992.tb00195.x. PubMed PMID:12106308 .
Sandi, C, Castro-Alamancos, MA, Cambronero, JC, Bailón, C, Guaza, C, Borrel, J et al.. [Interactions between the immune system and the neuroendocrine system. Implications of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal-adrenal axis]. Arch Neurobiol (Madr). 1989;52 (6):277-86. . PubMed PMID:2534566 .