A new study reveals specific brain regions and cell types that are vulnerable to Alzheimer's disease, while others show resilience. Gene expression analysis and lab experiments highlight the role of Reelin in neuronal vulnerability and choline/antioxidants in sustaining cognition.
A suite of three innovations by MIT researchers allows for high-resolution, high-throughput imaging of human brain tissue at various scales. This technology pipeline enables scientists to analyze the human brain at multiple scales, potentially mapping entire brains.
Researchers at MIT developed a novel image sensor that can track neural voltage changes in real-time. By optimizing pixel timing, the new sensor doubles signal-to-noise ratio and detects subtle 'subthreshold' variances, enabling better understanding of brain functions.
A new microscopy system called mosTF enables fast and clear imaging of the living brain, improving tracking of rapid changes in neural circuit structure. The system outperforms traditional two-photon microscopy methods by eight times speed and four-fold signal clarity.
A new study uses computational modeling to understand how ketamine affects individual neurons, leading to changes in brain network function. The model predicts that ketamine can disinhibit network activity by shutting down certain inhibitory interneurons.
A research team led by Gloria Choi and Jun Huh will investigate how fever improves autism symptoms in an effort to develop therapies that replicate this effect. They plan to explore the molecular mechanisms behind the 'fever effect' and its potential applications for individuals with autism spectrum disorders.
Neurons exhibit 'mixed selectivity,' integrating multiple inputs and computations, ensuring focused cognition. The brain employs mechanisms like oscillations and neuromodulators to recruit neurons and tune them to relevant information.
Beta bursts regulate neuron activity to implement cognitive control, enabling flexible but controlled patterns of neural activity for intentional thought. Studying these bursts could aid in diagnosing and treating cognitive disorders, including ADHD, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's disease.
The study suggests that understanding brain rhythms is critical for developing effective treatments for neurological disorders like schizophrenia, epilepsy, and Parkinson's. Cognition emerges from the coordinated activity of millions of neurons via electric fields, known as brain waves or rhythms.
A recent study published in Cell reveals significant similarities between amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), two distinct neurological disorders. The research found shared gene expression patterns across various brain regions, suggesting potential therapeutic targets for both conditions.
Researchers at MIT's Picower Institute found that stimulating a key brain rhythm with light and sound increases peptide release from interneurons, driving clearance of Alzheimer's protein. The study suggests that 40Hz sensory stimulation promotes increased amyloid clearance via the glymphatic system.
A growing number of studies have found that non-invasive sensory, electrical, or magnetic stimulation of gamma brain rhythms can reduce Alzheimer's pathology and its consequences. These studies have shown increases in gamma power, brain network connectivity, and improvements in memory, cognition, and sleep.
Researchers developed novel nanoparticles that deliver RNA to microglia immune cells, reducing inflammation linked to Alzheimer's disease. The study showed a 42% reduction of PU-1 expression and multiple inflammatory markers in human cell cultures and mice models.
A new study reveals that a genetic mutation in microglia can elevate Alzheimer's risk by reducing brain circuit connections, promoting inflammation, and impairing debris clearance. The mutation affects the TREM2 protein, leading to increased expression of inflammatory genes and impaired response to neuron injury.
Research suggests that consciousness requires synchronized communication across cortical regions; propofol general anesthesia cancels sensory processing by cutting it off. Neural activity in higher-level processing and cognitive regions fails to propagate during anesthesia.
Researchers at MIT and MGH have developed a closed-loop system that monitors brain state to tailor propofol dose and achieve exactly the desired level of unconsciousness. This technology enables more than 18 hours of fine-grained consciousness control, reducing postoperative cognitive side effects in vulnerable groups.
A new study resolves a long-standing contradiction in brain function by revealing that familiar stimuli trigger brief neural spikes, known as visually evoked potentials (VEPs), which suppress activity. The findings advance understanding of visual recognition memory, enabling prioritization of attention.
A single neuron in C. elegans worm uses multiple neurotransmitters to control egg-laying and locomotion, demonstrating the ability to 'borrow' serotonin from other neurons. The study reveals how a single neuron can influence complex behaviors over multiple timescales.
Researchers found that individual neurons can stochastically mix and match up to eight different editions of the Complexin 7A protein, leading to varying levels of glutamate release. This variation may endow each neuron with fine degrees of communication control, allowing for robust tuning of multiple features of neuronal output.
In a new study, researchers deciphered mice's behavior during reward-based learning tasks, finding they persistently blend multiple strategies. The findings suggest mice do not fully adopt optimal approaches, and their ability to shift between strategies is crucial for understanding their decision-making process.
A new molecule called A11 has been found to reduce inflammation and improve memory in models of Alzheimer's disease. By targeting the genetic transcription factor PU.1, A11 suppresses inflammatory gene expression in microglia immune cells, leading to reduced neurodegeneration and improved cognition.
Researchers used Drosophila to investigate how similar neurons develop unique properties through differential gene expression. The study found that two closely related neuron types differed in over 800 genes, leading to distinct functional characteristics.
A team of scientists has developed a rigorous accounting of the neurons in the tiny brain of a humble C. elegans worm, mapping out how its brain cells encode essential behaviors such as movement and feeding. The atlas reveals the underlying logic of how the worm's brain produces a sophisticated repertoire of behaviors, even as environm...
New research shows that electric fields drive neural activity and coordinate memory across two key brain regions. The findings could lead to improved brain-controlled prosthetics for people with paralysis.
Researchers found that Perlecan deficiency causes axonal segments to break apart during development, leading to synaptic connection loss. The protein's critical role depends on its secretion from multiple cell types, not just neurons.
Research suggests that brain's electrical activity tunes sub-cellular components to optimize network stability and efficiency. This 'Cytoelectric Coupling' hypothesis proposes that electric fields influence neurons' physical configuration to fine-tune information processing.
A new study by MIT scientists shows that 40 Hz vibration can reduce levels of the hallmark Alzheimer's protein phosphorylated tau, preserve neurons, and improve motor function in mouse models. This research demonstrates a third sensory modality to increase gamma power in the brain, offering new hope for Alzheimer's treatment.
Researchers at MIT's Picower Institute used a nematode worm to study serotonin's effects on behavior and brain activity. They identified three key receptors driving slowing behavior and found complex interactions between serotonin receptors modulating brain-wide activity.
Researchers at MIT's Picower Institute have developed a new method to measure consciousness without external stimulation, using a breathing task internally prompted by the subject. This approach detected loss of responsiveness at lower concentrations of anesthetic than previous methods, suggesting it is more sensitive.
A new MIT study explains how the brain manages general and specific components of working memory, enabling flexibility in task demands. Spatial Computing theory proposes that distinct spaces in the cortex govern rule-based control, allowing for dynamic reshaping of memory representations.
Researchers found that astrocyte cells directly impact motor learning by maintaining an optimal molecular balance. Astrocytes' ability to regulate neurotransmitter glutamate affects the smoothness of movement and refinement of technique.
Researchers mapped every thalamic synapse on 15 neurons in layer 2/3 of the visual cortex in mice and found that despite being weak and sparse, they are reliable and efficient representatives of information. The diversity of thalamic inputs underlies these advantages, allowing a small population of neurons to assemble the overall picture.
MIT scientists use single-cell profiling to analyze the cellular function of brain cells affected by Alzheimer's disease, identifying five main areas of disruption. The study reveals specific molecular programs and gene regulation changes that could lead to valuable biomarkers and therapeutic interventions.
Researchers at MIT's Picower Institute found that the brain stores information in working memory by making short-lived changes in neural connections, contradicting the traditional idea of sustained neuronal activity. This new insight sheds light on the sophisticated flexibility of thought and its dynamic nature.
Early stage clinical studies confirm 40Hz sensory stimulation is safe, with no serious adverse effects. The therapy also showed significant neurological and behavioral benefits, including improved brain activity, reduced brain atrophy, and better sleep patterns.
The APOE4 gene variant increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease by disrupting the insulation of brain wiring. Research found that oligodendrocytes mismanage cholesterol, failing to transport fat molecules to myelinate axons. This deficiency may contribute to the pathology and symptoms of Alzheimer's.
Researchers at MIT's Picower Institute suggest that Covid-19 patients in comas may enter a protective hibernation state to shield cells from oxygen scarcity. This hypothesis is supported by observations of cardiac arrest patients treated with hypothermia and the painted turtle, which also enters a similar state during prolonged anoxia.
Researchers have discovered that neurons with double-stranded breaks (DSBs) in their DNA actively trigger an inflammatory response, which is mediated by the activation of the NFkappaB transcription factor. This process elicits an immune response from microglia, leading to synaptic loss and cognitive function impairment.
A new study reveals how the C. elegans worm integrates environmental cues and internal states to guide food-seeking behavior, highlighting a potentially universal mechanism for nervous system integration. The research team found that internal states, such as hunger, can influence the expression of key smell receptors in sensory neurons.
Researchers at MIT's Picower Institute found that bursts of gamma frequency rhythms in the prefrontal cortex coordinate neural representation of information held in mind, reducing variability with focused thinking. This challenges a long-held orthodoxy on how neurons maintain working memory information.
A new study found that Alzheimer's disease damages a circuit that connects the vision processing centers of each brain hemisphere, leading to disrupted visual memory. The researchers discovered neurons that extend axons across the corpus callosum, which connect the hemispheres, and showed that these cells play a crucial role in synchro...
A new study by neuroscientists at MIT's Picower Institute finds that the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and motor cortex collaborate to update understanding and behavior when a task requires more steps. The ACC helps M2 adjust to new rules, but reduced activity leads to increased negative outcome encoding cells' activity in M2.
Newborn neurons in Rett syndrome organoids migrate slowly and erratically compared to non-mutated cells. The study provides new insight into how MECP2 mutations affect brain development, revealing larger ventricles and thinner neural zones.
Researchers found that the brain's cortex uses principles of calculus to implement a 'stop' signal, allowing for quick and precise decision-making in goal-directed behaviors. The study reveals how the brain integrates learned rules with sensory information to guide actions.
Neuroscientists have uncovered the step-by-step process of how calcium channels accumulate at active zones in neurons, a critical component of synaptic transmission. The study reveals that alpha2delta plays a key role in regulating Cac levels, and its function has important clinical effects on conditions such as epilepsy and nerve pain.
A new circuit model provides an explanation for how deep brain stimulation (DBS) relieves Parkinson's disease motor symptoms by interrupting a vicious cycle between the subthalamic nucleus and the striatum. The model suggests that DBS restores a balance with other rhythm frequencies, enabling better movement control.
A new study by MIT scientists reveals that propofol anesthesia significantly alters the state of brain waves, with lower frequency delta waves dominating. Higher frequency beta waves decrease in structure and power, with their traveling nature disrupted by the surging delta waves. The findings suggest a profound impact on consciousness.
Scientists at MIT's Picower Institute mapped thousands of inputs to the anterior cingulate cortex and lateral posterior thalamus, finding that both regions receive input from non-sensory areas. The study provides a detailed roadmap for understanding selective attention in mice.
A new study by MIT researchers confirms that a single memory is stored across many connected brain regions, challenging long-held assumptions. The study used advanced imaging techniques to map memory encoding and recall activity in mice, revealing dozens of brain regions involved in memory storage.
Researchers at MIT and University of London found that collective electric fields produced by neurons provide a stable and consistent signal of information in working memory. This allows the brain to function even if individual neurons die or change.