Researchers have mapped the complete neural wiring behind taste in an animal, tracing taste signals from sensory neurons to motor neurons that drive feeding. The study reveals neural pathways that could explain how taste triggers anticipatory insulin release before a single calorie is absorbed.
A team of researchers at the Champalimaud Foundation has identified four brain regions - including the orbitofrontal cortex and basal ganglia - that are 'core hubs' for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms. These regions show a positive connection to lesion sites, suggesting they become disconnected after lesions causing OCD.
For the first time, researchers have identified the direction of neural signals in the brain using functional MRI. The study showed that feedforward and feedback nervous impulses each have unique signatures that can be detected with a new method called uFLARE.
A new study by Leopoldo Petreanu's team shows that different visual experiences result in distinct patterns of organization in feedback connections. Mice with miniature goggles biased to see edges oriented at specific angles had unique tuning properties and patterns in these connections.
A new study shows that a brief burst of oxidative stress right after an injury can help the brain repair itself by activating protective antioxidant processes and waking up dormant cells. This 'oxidative spark' involves a specific group of support cells releasing reactive oxygen species, which drives cell division and replacement.
Researchers discovered that the gut's epithelial cells can translate nerve signals into molecular instructions, such as cytokines, to coordinate immune responses. This system is closely linked to feeding behaviour and daily biological rhythms, suggesting a link between disrupted circadian patterns and 'civilisation diseases' like chron...
A study from the Champalimaud Foundation found that when fruit flies are deprived of essential amino acids, their brains upregulate two olfactory receptor genes involved in smell, leading to a refined sense of smell that guides them to protein-rich yeast and gut bacteria. This interplay between smell and taste regulates feeding behavior.
Researchers at Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown used machine learning techniques to show that mice's facial movements reflect their hidden thoughts. This discovery could offer unprecedented insight into brain function and potential new research tools.
The study found that a specific spinal circuit is involved in both ejaculation and arousal, and integrates sensory inputs to adjust its output based on the animal's internal state. The researchers also discovered that Gal⁺ neurons receive sensory input from the penis and can trigger ejaculation, but their effects are suppressed by brai...
Researchers found that brain's dopamine neurons encode a map of possible future rewards across time and magnitude, guiding adaptive behavior in uncertain environments. This biological insight aligns with recent advances in AI, particularly distributional RL algorithms, which learn from reward distributions rather than averages.
A team of researchers has shown that it may be possible to diagnose Parkinson's disease years before it becomes untreatable by scanning people's brains with fMRI. The study used ultra-high field experimental MRI scanners and analyzed brain activity in response to sensory impairments such as loss of smell and visual deficits.
Scientists discovered a compact neural network in fruit flies that detects self-motion and maintains direction by integrating visual input from both eyes. The study reveals how the fly's brain extracts subtle deviations from straight paths, enabling precise course corrections at high speeds.
Researchers found that pancreatic cancer cells gain a survival edge by carrying copies of critical cancer genes on circular pieces of DNA outside chromosomes. The discovery highlights the importance of targeting extrachromosomal DNA in treating the disease.
Researchers analyzed London taxi drivers' route-planning behavior and found they prioritize high-complexity parts of the city space during offline thinking time. This contradicts previous hypotheses about their decision-making process.
Researchers discover immune cells regulate blood sugar levels by stimulating glucagon production in the pancreas. This complex neuroimmune-hormonal circuit reveals a new way the body maintains stable glucose levels, especially during periods of low energy.
A new study detects pre-malignant pancreatic lesions using Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI), a form of MRI, which could enable early diagnosis and effective therapies. The detection was successful in both transgenic mice and human samples, opening the way to non-invasive diagnostic tools for PanINs.
A systematic review of 45 studies found inconsistent descriptions of psychotherapy sessions, making it difficult to replicate studies and compromise patient well-being. Researchers call for improved reporting standards to enhance the replicability, safety, and potential effectiveness of these therapies.
A team of scientists has pinpointed a critical neural circuit for female sexual rejection, revealing how the brain integrates signals to shape behavior. The ventromedial hypothalamus, specifically progesterone-sensitive neurons in the anterior VMH, play a crucial role in determining whether a female accepts or rejects mating attempts.
A new study reveals that patients with Parkinson's disease who exhibit rest tremor have more dopamine preserved in the caudate nucleus, a part of the brain important for movement planning and cognition. This challenges traditional understanding of how dopamine loss relates to PD symptoms.
A study published in Neuron reveals that neurons are wired to connect seemingly unrelated concepts, enhancing the brain's ability to predict what we see based on past experiences. Visual experience influences the organisation of feedback projections, which store information about the world.
Researchers found that macrophages induce cancer cell apoptosis and then eat away dead cells after BCG vaccine injection in a new animal model. This breakthrough could lead to more effective bladder cancer treatments.
A new study reveals that neural activity related to sound detection and movement are temporally separated but share commonalities, with neurons adapting their activity based on experience. The findings shed light on the brain's complex processing of sensory information and behavioral choices.
Researchers discovered a class of cerebellar inputs, called climbing fibres, are essential for associative learning to occur. These
Researchers discover dopamine signals affect movement sequence length, shedding light on Parkinson's Disease symptoms and potential therapeutic targets. The study's findings suggest a complex role of dopamine neurons in movement, with distinct effects on movement-related and reward-related dopamine neurons.
The study reveals that the superior colliculus is vital in the transition from seeing individual flashes to smooth motion, and may be a key component in creating the continuity illusion. Different methods of measuring the Flicker Fusion Frequency threshold suggest other parts of the brain also play a role in this process.
Researchers discovered that cerebellar nuclei make a surprising contribution to associative learning by strengthening connections with mossy fibers. Optogenetic experiments also showed that the nuclei can support well-timed learning. The study's findings have implications for understanding cerebellum function and potential treatments f...
A new study reveals that esketamine nasal spray is effective in treating treatment-resistant depression, with 27.1% of patients achieving remission after 8 weeks compared to 17.6% on quetiapine XR. Long-term data shows sustained remission rates at 21.7% for esketamine NS and 14.1% for quetiapine XR.
Researchers used a new analytical approach to understand how the brain controls movement and eye stability in zebrafish. By analyzing neuronal activity, they identified two main features that correspond to specific types of movements, including eye rotation and body positioning.
Researchers found that rodents exposed to light for the first time in adulthood showed significant plasticity in their brains, challenging previous beliefs about adult brain rigidity. After a month, their brains looked similar to those of healthy controls, with organized visual responses and smaller receptive fields.
Scientists found that cooling or warming the striatum region slows down or speeds up activity patterns, which correlates with rats' timing judgements. This provides evidence for the 'population clock hypothesis', suggesting that brains use decentralized and flexible sense of time.
The use of psychedelics in mental health treatment is gaining traction, but concerns about patient safety and regulation need to be addressed. Psychedelic-assisted therapy shows promise in treating conditions like depression and PTSD, but more research is needed on dosages, settings, and guidelines.
A study published in Nature Neuroscience reveals that the brain can compute multiple alternative decision strategies simultaneously, which may facilitate cognitive flexibility and learning. Researchers used a 'virtual reality' setup to study mice searching for water in a virtual world, finding that the brain activity patterns reflected...
A recent study published in Nature Communications suggests that the brain functions like a resonance chamber, with distant areas exhibiting correlated activation patterns. The researchers used ultrafast MRI to detect these patterns in rats and found that they are driven by resonant waves, explaining correlations observed in slow imaging.
Researchers at Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown discovered that female fruit flies engage in aggressive behavior during mating, triggered by courtship and food odors. The study found that virgins become aggressive after being courted first, while mated females remain indifferent to copulating pairs.
Champalimaud Foundation researchers have developed a new biomarker, IgG-positive EVs, to assess treatment response in pancreatic cancer patients. These extracellular vesicles increase during disease progression and decrease in response to therapy, offering a more reliable tool for evaluating tumour status.
A recent study published in Frontiers found that older patients respond equally well to rTMS but with slower onset of effects compared to younger patients. The researchers suggest revising treatment protocols to consider longer courses for older adults, making this treatment more accessible.
Researchers uncover brain area responsible for driving action and suppressing drive in a novel task designed to study active action suppression. The team identified the dorsomedial striatum as the key region promoting action, while the indirect pathway suppresses it, leading to an 'impulsivity switch'.
A recent study published in Nature has identified a complex neural network in the fruit-fly brain that shapes behavior and decision-making, particularly when it comes to food choice. The 'appetite map' created by the researchers reveals how internal states, such as nutrient deficiencies and pregnancy, interact to guide behavior.
Researchers investigated how fruit flies respond to threats in groups, finding that higher threat levels trigger greater attention to social cues. The study suggests that attunement with other animals allows individuals to respond quickly and efficiently to threats.
Researchers at Champalimaud Centre found that Wg/Wnt signaling molecule helps mount a regenerative response to brain damage. Neurons sense tissue distress, triggering dormant neural stem cells to activate and produce new neurons.
A study found that the brain uses data compression to eliminate irrelevant information and adopt temporary 'tunnel vision' for optimal performance. This principle extends beyond sensory processing to cognitive functions.
A project dubbed Cinderella aims to improve breast cancer surgery patient satisfaction by evaluating aesthetic results objectively. Researchers have developed a software, BCCT.core, that can automatically classify the aesthetic quality of surgery outcomes, distinguishing between good and bad results with high precision.
Researchers challenge long-held assumptions about human problem-solving abilities, revealing that many people fail to adapt a sophisticated strategy. A new study suggests that individuals with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) tend to rely on an inefficient approach, even when faced with complex problems.
A team of scientists has discovered a bi-directional neural network connecting the legs and visual system in fruit flies, enabling them to walk while tracking their steps. The study reveals that this network supports walking on two different timescales simultaneously.
A new study finds that the brain estimates controllability through competition between two parallel learning processes: the actor and the spectator. High levels of stress and anxiety impair people's sense of control, making them believe their actions don't matter.
A newly discovered brain circuit in the cortex and striatum may endow humans with the ability to learn new motor skills. Researchers found that spiny projection neurons (SPNs) are excited twice: first through direct routes and second through an indirect circuit, which amplifies the initial excitation.
A study published in Nature finds that neurons in the primary olfactory cortex learn to encode spatial maps by associating odours with locations, allowing animals to navigate and remember valuable resources. This discovery sheds light on how our brains process smells and spaces.
A study by Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown found that fruit fly hearts accelerate when in danger and slow down during freezing, a behavior previously thought to be energy-saving. This unexpected result suggests an entirely new mechanism at play in flies' cardiac responses.
Researchers used fruit flies in a virtual reality setting to show that vision influences body movements by tuning postural adjustments as a preventative measure. Without vision, the limb control systems respond to balance and posture perturbations, but when vision is available, the behavioral goal of walking straight takes precedence.
Researchers uncover a neuro-immune process by which brain signals instruct immune function in visceral fat stores, providing new approaches for fighting obesity and related illness. The study identifies a critical mediator of neuro-immune communication, mesenchymal cells, and reveals the molecular messages exchanged across all steps.