Jacques Benoit Lecture. Information processing in the hypothalamus: peptides and analogue computation

G Leng, M Ludwig

Research output: Contribution to journalLiterature reviewpeer-review

Abstract

Peptides in the hypothalamus are not like conventional neurotransmitters; their release is not particularly associated with synapses, and their long half-lives mean that they can diffuse to distant targets. Peptides can act on their cells of origin to facilitate the development of patterned electrical activity, they can act on their neighbours to bind the collective activity of a neural population into a coherent signalling entity, and the co-ordinated population output can transmit waves of peptide secretion that act as a patterned hormonal analogue signal within the brain. At their distant targets, peptides can re-programme neural networks, by effects on gene expression, synaptogenesis, and by functionally rewiring connections by priming activity-dependent release.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)379-92
Number of pages14
JournalJournal of Neuroendocrinology
Volume18
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2006

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Hypothalamus
  • Mental Processes
  • Neural Pathways
  • Neuropeptides
  • Synaptic Transmission

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