The formation of LTP also requires a number of convergent synapses to be activated and shows input specificity as well as associativity13. LTP has a long duration, often lasting days, but is not permanent. The leading experimental model for such changes has been long-term potentiation (LTP) – the finding that brief, high frequency activation of excitatory pathways can evoke an increase in synaptic efficiency12 – as well as the converse phenomena, long term depression (LTD). Cognitive dysfunction has also been recognised as a primary and encoring core deficit in schizophrenia, affecting approximately 1 per cent of the population11.Ī central tenet in neurobiology is that long-lasting changes in the efficacy of synaptic transmission in the mammalian brain are considered to be of fundamental importance for the storage of information. These deficits range from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) without overt dementia7 age-related memory impairment (AAMI)8, to Alzheimer’s disease (AD), estimated to affect 25 million people worldwide in 20009, in addition to other neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s10. We have focussed on the discussion of three such techniques: in vitro brain slice recordings to study the modulation of synaptic transmission and plasticity multi-electrode array recordings to identify the action of psychoactive drugs on simple neuronal networks and the use of electroencephalogram recordings to identify biomarkers of drug efficacy.ĭeficits in cognition underlie a large number of CNS disorders whose treatment remains a major challenge in healthcare. In this article, we describe how both in vitro and in vivo electrophysiological techniques employing ensemble recordings of neuronal network activity are being utilised to tackle this approach to CNS drug discovery. However, for CNS indications, pharmacological activity in vivo is often more difficult to predict, as neurons do not exist in isolation but form complex networks, generating different modes of activity based on their integration within that circuitry. To prioritise drug discovery resources and provide early proof-of-concept studies for novel compounds and mechanisms, the pharmaceutical industry is increasingly focusing on trying to identify and develop early biological markers (biomarkers).Ī biomarker has been defined as a characteristic that can be objectively measured as an indicator of a normal biological process a pathogenic process or a pharmacological process caused by a therapeutic intervention3,4.Įlectrophysiological recording from single cells can contribute a great deal towards discovering pharmacological mechanisms and measuring drug activity at the receptor level, which has already been the focus of several articles in European Pharmaceutical Review5,6. The Grant of 2000 € (two thousand Euro) is offered to the best contribution made by a young researcher at each biennial IPEG Conference.In spite of an increased understanding of brain mechanisms in recent years, there has been a lack of major new drugs being registered for psychiatric and neurological conditions1,2.
The Werner Herrmann Memorial Grant has been established by PAREXEL International to encourage research in the field of neuropsychophysiology and to promote the knowledge of recent developments and advanced information of the methodology and applications of neurophysiological research in neuropsychopharmacology. He also served as the Main Editor, section Pharmacoelectroencephalography of Neuropsychobiology, the official journal of the IPEG. He has made significant contributions to his field through his innumerable publications and lectures and he was one of the founding members in the development of the International Pharmaco EEG Society (IPEG). Werner Herrmann was at the foremost a passionate, dedicated scientist, whose quest for excellence in his field was enhanced by his curiosity, his initiative and his drive. Herrmann in May 2002 was a great shock for his friends, colleagues and for everyone who regarded him as a mentor, a sounding board and a sparring partner.
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