IRCCS Stella Maris 2 articles published in JoVE Neuroscience Assessing Pupil-linked Changes in Locus Coeruleus-mediated Arousal Elicited by Trigeminal Stimulation Maria Paola Tramonti Fantozzi*1, Tommaso Banfi*2,3, Vincenzo De Cicco*1, Massimo Barresi4, Enrico Cataldo5, Davide De Cicco1, Luca Bruschini6, Paola d'Ascanio1, Gastone Ciuti2,3, Ugo Faraguna1,7, Diego Manzoni1 1Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, 2 To verify whether trigeminal effects on cognitive performance involve locus coeruleus activity, two protocols are presented that aim to evaluate possible correlations between the performance and task-related pupil size changes induced by chewing. These protocols may be applied to conditions in which locus coeruleus contribution is suspected. Neuroscience A Novel Strategy Combining Array-CGH, Whole-exome Sequencing and In Utero Electroporation in Rodents to Identify Causative Genes for Brain Malformations Valerio Conti*1, Aurelie Carabalona*2,3,15, Emilie Pallesi-Pocachard2,3,4, Richard J. Leventer5,6,7, Fabienne Schaller2,3,8, Elena Parrini1, Agathe A. Deparis2,3, Françoise Watrin2,3, Emmanuelle Buhler2,3,8, Francesca Novara9, Stefano Lise10, Alistair T. Pagnamenta10, Usha Kini11, Jenny C. Taylor10, Orsetta Zuffardi9,12, Alfonso Represa2,3, David Antony Keays13, Renzo Guerrini1,14, Antonio Falace2,3, Carlos Cardoso2,3 1University of Florence, 2INSERM INMED, 3Aix-Marseille University, 4Plateforme Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire INMED, 5 Periventricular nodular heterotopia (PNH) is the most common form of malformation of cortical development (MCD) in adulthood but its genetic basis remains unknown in most sporadic cases. We have recently developed a strategy to identify novel candidate genes for MCDs and to directly confirm their causative role in vivo.
