Researchers challenge traditional assumptions on synaptic potentiation and instead identify clustered patterns of connections as crucial for retaining long-term memories. Through artificial hibernation techniques, they discovered that small clusters of engram-engram synapses are preserved to enable accurate recall.
Researchers develop molecular tool called SynTrogo, which enables selective dismantling of synaptic connections in brain circuits. By harnessing astrocytes, the system reduces synapse number while strengthening remaining connections, leading to enhanced long-term potentiation and improved memory.
Researchers developed a new tool to track changes in the synaptic proteome over time, correlating changes to synaptic dysregulation and synapse loss. The results suggest that toxic tau oligomers impact postsynaptic structures first, leading to a dynamic cascade of events that contribute to neurodegeneration.
Researchers from Kyushu University found that the brain forms new, high-density clusters of synapses on specific segments of dendrites during adolescence, challenging the 'adolescent synaptic pruning' hypothesis. This discovery may offer new hope for understanding the biological basis of schizophrenia and other neurodevelopmental condi...
Scientists at Salk Institute find protein CCN1, secreted by astrocytes, maintains stable neural circuits in adult brains. The discovery could lead to new therapeutics for brain injury and stroke.
Researchers identified five phases of brain structure, each supported by four turning points between birth and death, revealing key developments in cognitive performance, neural efficiency, and regional compartmentalization. The study provides context for understanding why brains develop differently at various stages of life.
The YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas has developed a new pilot program called 'YES YOU CAN!' focusing on brain plasticity and comprehensive support for children, teens, parents, and counselors. The initiative aims to promote well-being and provide access to expert care through virtual and in-person methods.
Researchers at Kobe University identified differences in synaptic protein production between mice and marmosets during development. The study found that these differences may relate to evolutionary differences between rodent and primate brains, as well as their relevance to autism spectrum disorders.
A recent study by Ohio State University researchers found that saturated fats can interfere with the creation of new memories in aged brains. However, omega-3 fatty acids, particularly DHA, may help protect brain cells from fat-related inflammation. The study used cell cultures and brain tissue from aging mice to explore the effects of...
A UMass Amherst neuroscientist is mapping the brain of a sea slug to study how neurons are added to functional neural circuits, shedding light on how this process contributes to neurological conditions. The project aims to provide an unprecedented look at brain development and potentially inform human brain development.
Researchers are exploring natural killer cells as a potential treatment for neuropathic pain, which is caused by nerve damage. NK cells may help prune damaged nerve cells, providing relief from chronic pain.
The study reveals that spontaneous waves of neurotransmitter glutamate facilitate dendrite pruning, while a unique protection/punishment machinery strengthens certain connections and eliminates others. Proper pruning is critical for neural development, with insufficient or excessive connections linked to neurophysiological disorders.
Research suggests that problems with the brain's ability to 'prune' itself of unnecessary connections may underlie a wide range of mental health disorders that begin during adolescence. Adolescents experiencing mental health problems showed similar patterns of brain activity, which were largely apparent in the frontal lobes.
In a breakthrough study, researchers at Münster University revealed that mechanical tearing is the primary mechanism behind neurite pruning in sensory nerve cells of fruit flies. This process, which occurs during development, involves strong body contractions causing stress on fragile neurites, leading to their severance and removal.
Researchers have discovered that oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) play a crucial role in synaptic pruning, cleaning up unwanted connections between neurons. By analyzing a massive dataset of 3D brain cell structures, the team found OPCs digesting parts of neighboring neurons.
Researchers found elevated C4A levels in first-episode psychosis patients who later developed schizophrenia, correlating with increased IL-1beta and synapse density. This suggests a link between inflammation and genetic risk variants in schizophrenia.
Germ-free zebrafish larvae have altered neural connections due to reduced microglia pruning by immune cells. Reintroducing normal microbiota restores normal development and social behavior. Microorganisms stimulate microglial activity, promoting neural connection remodeling.
A new study suggests that supplementing a diet with Ascidiacea, also known as sea squirts, reverses some main signs of aging in animal models. The researchers found that plasmalogens, vital to body processes, decrease with age and contribute to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
A USC-led study reveals that children with binge eating disorder show abnormalities in gray matter density compared to unaffected peers, indicating a possible link between the disorder and brain development. The findings suggest that treatment may need to address underlying brain abnormalities.
A study found that an overactive immune system gene causes schizophrenia-like changes in mice, including neural and behavioral aspects of the disease. The researchers suggest that this gene may be contributing to the development of schizophrenia through mis-regulated synaptic pruning.
A study published in Nature Neuroscience found that individuals with schizophrenia exhibit excessive synaptic pruning, a process normally occurring during adolescence. This abnormality contributes to the development of schizophrenia symptoms.
The new algorithm simplifies neural models through synaptic pruning and dendritic pruning procedures, resulting in simplified structures that can be implemented as logic circuits. These circuits achieved satisfactory classification accuracy on benchmark problems, suggesting potential for solving complex real-world problems with high ha...
Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital have discovered a 'don't eat me' signal that prevents microglia from pruning useful connections. This 'yin/yang' system helps fine-tune brain circuits, ensuring normal brain development and potentially treating neurodegenerative diseases.
Researchers at the University of Münster have discovered a correlation between the spatial organization of a nerve cell and its process degeneration. The study found that specific arrangement of cytoskeleton components influences the direction of dendrite degeneration in fruit flies.
A new study reveals that the brain region responsible for face recognition continues to grow in adulthood, contradicting the prevailing view of synaptic pruning as a key factor in brain development. The growth is linked to an increase in cell bodies, dendritic structures, and myelin sheath.
Researchers at SUNY Downstate Health Science University have identified a brain receptor that triggers synaptic pruning in the hippocampus during adolescence. This process is crucial for normal learning but goes awry in diseases such as autism and schizophrenia.
Researchers at Rockefeller University found that the cell body actively controls axon degeneration in embryos. The study reveals that a lack of NGF triggers a message within the cell that ultimately instructs the axon to die.
Researchers discovered that gene versions of C4 trigger runaway synaptic pruning during adolescence, leading to fewer brain connections and higher risk of developing schizophrenia. This finding offers a new potential target for interventions and treatments.
A study found that children with autism have a surplus of synapses in the brain due to a slowdown in synaptic pruning during development. The researchers discovered that administering a drug called rapamycin can improve autistic-like behaviors in mice, even when given after the behaviors have appeared.
A Stanford study reveals that astrocytes, a mysterious class of brain cells, actively refine nerve-cell circuits by selectively eliminating synapses, much like a sculptor chisels away excess rock to create an artwork. This process is triggered by activity in neurons and persists into adulthood.
A study found that a single nucleotide polymorphism in the BDNF gene leads to shrinkage of neurons from the hippocampus, reducing connectivity between brain cells. The discovery offers mechanistic insight into why some depression and anxiety runs in families.
Researchers discovered neurons employ distinct Caspase mechanisms for axon pruning and apoptosis, providing insights into neurological disorders. The study's findings shed light on the processes underlying neurodevelopmental disorders like schizophrenia and autism.
Researchers have provided definitive evidence that NMDAR receptors are crucial for pruning synapses in newborn mammals' brains. This discovery sheds new light on the neural basis of autism and schizophrenia. The study used a mouse model with brain cells lacking or containing NMDARs to demonstrate the receptor's direct role in synaptic ...
Researchers have shown that microglia in the brain target and remove unused connections between brain cells during normal development. The study highlights the newly found importance of the immune system in shaping brain wiring.
Researchers at MIT have discovered a direct linear pathway connecting three molecules involved in synaptic formation, shedding light on the 'pruning' of neural circuits during development. This new pathway's role in development and learning could advance our understanding of devastating developmental neurological disorders.
Researchers found that adolescence leads to a significant loss of neurons in the ventral prefrontal cortex, particularly in females, which challenges current models of brain development. This finding has implications for understanding human psychopathologies like schizophrenia and depression that often arise during late adolescence.
Neurons make fickle friends as the brain rapidly forms and reconfigures connections in response to new experiences. This process allows the brain to adapt quickly to changing situations, strengthening and pruning circuits to optimize information processing.
Researchers at Salk Institute and Stanford University found that axon degeneration after injury involves different mechanisms than normal developmental pruning. The Wlds protein has been shown to slow degeneration in cut axons, and its conservation across species suggests general mechanisms for preserving nerve function.