洛克菲勒大学Gaby Maimon小组的一项最新研究揭示了神经元钙峰值使果蝇大脑中的载体倒置成为可能。相关论文于2025年12月29日发表于国际顶尖学术期刊《细胞》杂志上。

该研究组展示了在果蝇中央复合体中参与向量计算的神经元类如何利用超极化引发的钙峰来反转二维数学向量。通过从发射钠峰转换为钙峰，这些神经元实现了神经元群中编码的矢量与果蝇内部罗盘信号之间的180°重新排列，它们将矢量反转。该研究组表明，钙峰值依赖于t型钙通道Ca-α1T，并通过分析和实验方法证明，这些峰值能够在角空间的部分进行矢量计算，否则将无法进入。这些结果揭示了分子、细胞和电路特性之间的无缝交互作用，以实现大脑中的矢量数学。

据介绍，一个典型的神经元在去极化时向下游细胞发出信号，并发射钠峰。然而，一些神经元在超极化时也会激发钙峰。这种双向信号的功能在大多数电路中仍不清楚。

附：英文原文

Title: Neuronal calcium spikes enable vector inversion in the Drosophila brain

Author: Itzel G. Ishida, Sachin Sethi, Thomas L. Mohren, Mia K. Haraguchi, L.F. Abbott, Gaby Maimon

Issue&Volume: 2025-12-29

Abstract: A typical neuron signals to downstream cells when it is depolarized and fires sodium spikes. Some neurons, however, also fire calcium spikes when hyperpolarized. The function of such bidirectional signaling remains unclear in most circuits. Here, we show how a neuron class that participates in vector computation in the fly central complex employs hyperpolarization-elicited calcium spikes to invert two-dimensional mathematical vectors. By switching from firing sodium to calcium spikes, these neurons implement a ～180° realignment between the vector encoded in the neuronal population and the fly’s internal compass signal, thus inverting the vector. We show that calcium spikes rely on the T-type calcium channel Ca-α1T and argue via analytical and experimental approaches that these spikes enable vector computations in portions of angular space that would otherwise be inaccessible. These results reveal a seamless interaction between molecular, cellular, and circuit properties for implementing vector mathematics in the brain.

DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2025.11.040

Source: https://www.cell.com/cell/abstract/S0092-8674(25)01375-3