Articles tagged with Neuronal Synapses
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Johns Hopkins scientists have discovered a molecular wrecking ball called thorase that regulates the demolition phase of a cycle at synapses, critical for learning and memory. The enzyme's activity can be harnessed to create new treatments for autism, post-traumatic stress, and memory dysfunction.
Scientists have developed a new technique to map both connections and functions of nerve cells in the brain for the first time. The 'connectomics' approach aims to understand how perceptions, sensations, and thoughts are generated in the brain, with potential applications in diseases like Alzheimer's and schizophrenia.
Researchers have identified a previously overlooked brain area, the lateral habenula, as a prime locus of human depression. The area's hyperactivity is linked to depression-like symptoms and may be targeted by deep brain stimulation (DBS) for treatment.
Acute stress exposure changes brain function in the cerebellum, a region responsible for motor control and learning. The study found that a five-minute exposure to predator odor inserted GluR2 receptors, increasing electrical activity and altering output in mice.
A new study reveals how tau protein disrupts neuronal communication at synapses before obvious neuron damage, leading to early memory deficits and impaired synaptic function. The research identifies aberrant mislocalization of tau proteins in dendritic spines as a key mechanism driving disease progression.
A protein called APC plays a key role in synapse maturation, and dysfunction prevents the synapse function required for typical learning and memory. Mutations in genes related to neuroligin and neurexin are associated with autism, but little was known about their mechanisms at the synapse.
Researchers have developed a novel microscopy method that allows for the observation of individual synapses and nerve contact sites in living mammalian brains. The study found that individual neurons integrate inputs from multiple synapses to produce a single output signal, making decisions by a single nerve cell.
A study published in PNAS found that a synaptic maturation disorder, particularly with the neuroligin-1 protein, may trigger autism. The research suggests that an insufficient amount of this protein can impair the maturation process at nerve terminals, leading to communication problems and weaknesses in social contacts.
Researchers found that normal synaptic activity protects the brain from misfolded proteins associated with Huntington's disease, while excessive extrasynaptic activity enhances their deadly effects. Low doses of Memantine successfully treated Huntington's disease in a mouse model by preserving normal synaptic electrical activity.
Researchers found that two receptors, neogenin and Unc5B, work together to guide a growing axon towards its destination. The discovery sheds light on how the axon navigates through the body and could have implications for understanding neurological disorders.
Researchers at NYU Langone's Skirball Institute have discovered the missing link between Agrin and MuSK, essential molecules for neuromuscular synapse formation. This breakthrough may lead to new insights into causes of myasthenia gravis and ALS.
Researchers identified a gene that controls the proper development of synapses in fruit flies, which may help explain how they go wrong in humans. The findings suggest that a protein complex helps regulate synaptic growth by decommissioning receptors that respond to pro-growth signals.
The study found that too little MeCP2 leads to fewer synapses, while too much causes an overabundance, resulting in mental retardation and autism-like symptoms. Understanding the regulation of MeCP2 is crucial for determining optimal synapse number.
Researchers at UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine have identified neurexin as essential for synapse growth, maintenance, and function. The study in Drosophila fruit flies may lead to insights into autism spectrum disorders and human neurological disorders.
Researchers at the Salk Institute found that newborn neurons tend to form connections with mature brain cells, rather than randomly connecting throughout the network. This allows them to compete out older neurons and ensure proper integration into the existing circuitry.
Scientists at Salk Institute develop tool to identify all neurons connected to a single neuron, shedding light on brain wiring and neural circuits. The modified rabies virus is used to create a wiring diagram of the brain, revealing connections between neurons and correlating them with brain functions.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have found a link between microglia activation and Alzheimer's disease, suggesting a new approach to fighting the disease. The study also shows promise for immunosuppressant FK506 as a potential treatment for neurodegenerative disorders.
The study found that recycling endosomes transport cargo needed to grow new synapses, leading to advances in understanding Alzheimer's disease, autism, and age-related memory loss. The discovery may lead to potential treatments for these conditions by targeting critical cellular processes.
Brain researchers in Göttingen have created a genetic animal model for autism, showing that neuroligins ensure signal transmission between nerve cells. The study reveals that autistic patients often lack mature synapses due to mutations in the genes carrying building instructions for proteins in the neuroligin family.
Scientists find VIAAT enables joint storage of GABA and glycine in vesicles, refuting dogma that GABA release is crucial for nerve cell growth. VIAAT mutant mice develop normally despite GABA and glycine release elimination.
Researchers identified Staufen2 as essential for maintaining synapses in nerve cells. The absence of Staufen2 leads to impaired signal transmission and altered synapse structure, suggesting mRNA transport is crucial for their maintenance.
Mitochondria play a crucial role in delivering energy to nerve cells, but researchers have discovered that they are not essential for communication between neurons. In a surprising finding, mutant fruit flies with disrupted mitochondrial transport can still transmit signals and survive for five days.
Researchers used a custom-made LCD screen to monitor hundreds of neurons in the zebra fish's brain as they matured in real time. They discovered that young neurons fire only in response to one type of movement, sparking new insights into image recognition and synaptic formation.
Neuroscientist Dmitri Chklovskii's study reveals non-random patterns of local connectivity in the rat brain, suggesting functional modules that process information. The researchers found that strong connections account for half of synaptic strength and play a crucial role in brain function.
Researchers discovered two proteins, thrombospondins, that encourage new synapses to form in the brain. This study could help understand diseases like epilepsy and addiction where too many synapses form, and may lead to new treatments for recovering addicts.
Research found that toxic amyloid ß-derived diffusible ligands (ADDLs) specifically attack and disrupt synapses in the brain, leading to memory loss in Alzheimer's patients. Understanding how ADDLs target specific neurons and synapses could lead to new therapeutic drugs capable of reversing memory loss.
Researchers found that AMPA receptors play a crucial role in regulating nerve cell responses to pain stimulation during inflammatory conditions. The study showed that mice with increased or decreased permeability of AMPA channels exhibited distinct pain responses to heat and mechanical pressure on inflamed paws.
Researchers have connected neuregulin-1 and postsynaptic density protein-95 to memory and hearing loss, suggesting that these proteins may play a crucial role in neural development and communication. The study's findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying age-related cognitive decline and hearing loss.
A team of researchers found that impaired Kv4.2 ion channels in neurons can lead to increased excitability and seizure frequency in epilepsy. Inhibiting the ERK enzyme may provide a new therapeutic target for treating this condition.
Researchers at the University of Southern California challenge the 'arithmetic' neurons use to process information, finding that summation depends on input location. The study reveals a two-layer model of processing, with local thresholds in separate branches and linear summation at the cell body.
Researchers found a speed limit to neural network synchronization, set by network connectivity. The analysis revealed that even strong interactions cannot achieve faster synchronization than an upper limit. This could severely limit the speed of information processing in the brain.
Researchers discover protein CPEB uses prion properties to strengthen synaptic connections, enabling long-term memory storage. The finding challenges traditional views of prions as toxic and suggests they may play a key role in fundamental processes.
Studies have found that nerve cells in mature brains undergo metamorphoses and exhibit motility, reorganizing their structure to adapt to changing conditions. This discovery may have important implications for addressing diseases such as spinal injury by promoting recovery from synaptic abnormalities.
Researchers found that boosting PKM levels in fruit flies improves memory retention, contradicting previous understanding of memory fade. The discovery sheds light on the process of synaptic tagging during memory formation and has significant implications for our understanding of neural mechanisms.
Scientists from UCSD's Divisions of Biology and Physical Sciences have observed the formation of permanent nerve connections that store short- and long-term memories. By visualizing the rods and filaments of actin, they discovered that these changes occur after repeated stimulation, mimicking human memory consolidation.
Brain researchers find that glial cells produce surplus cholesterol to support nerve cell growth and synapse formation. The discovery sheds new light on an often-disdained molecule and offers perspectives for neurobiological research and potential strategies to cure brain lesions.
A Harvard Medical School study found that immune proteins Class I MHC and CD3-zeta play a role in brain development and remodeling, potentially triggering developmental disorders like dyslexia. The proteins may also be involved in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis.
Researchers have gained a close look at synapses and dendritic spines governing brain function using high resolution imaging technique two-photon microscopy. They discovered that single calcium channels in these structures are responsible for triggering changes in neurons, encoding memories and processing information.
Researchers at NYU and MIT have created a peptide-based scaffold that supports living nerve cells, enabling the growth of functional synapses. This breakthrough discovery offers new hope for repairing damaged nervous systems, including spinal cord injuries.
A study funded by NIAAA found a common linkage between prenatal alcohol exposure and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), suggesting reduced dopamine neurons may contribute to hyperactivity. The research suggests both immediate and long-lasting effects on the brain's ability to focus.
Yale researchers have created a new method to record electrical activities within living cells, providing insights into degenerative neurological diseases like Parkinson's. The technique, which allows scientists to study inaccessible parts of cells, has already led to findings on how neurons learn and remember.
A new research method reveals that information can be stored on the surface of neurons with very high spatial density, similar to a CD-ROM. The method allows precise control over neurotransmitter release and discovered that modifications are highly restricted, enabling single synapses to store information separately.
Researchers discovered a protein called yotiao, which anchors enzymes to NMDA receptors in neurons, controlling electrical impulses. This sophisticated control mechanism allows for precise and rapid signaling, enabling nerve cells to rapidly recover from activation.
Researchers have located a gene mutation responsible for nonsyndromic mental retardation (MRX), a condition affecting brain development and causing severe cognitive problems. The PAK-3 gene defect, discovered on the X chromosome, gives insight into how neurons interact in learning and memory.
Researchers at Emory University report a link between mental stress and cardiovascular damage. They suggest that chronic stress can lead to inflammation and oxidative stress, ultimately damaging the heart. The study's findings have implications for understanding the causes of cardiovascular disease in individuals with fragile X syndrome.