Articles tagged with Circuit Development
Researchers have identified a protein responsible for controlling the growth of gigantic synapses in the auditory part of the brain. These massive synapses allow for rapid signal transmission, outpacing other neuronal circuits by a fraction of a millisecond, enabling humans to pinpoint sound sources with remarkable accuracy.
Bozhi Tian has been selected as a 2013 Searle Scholar for his innovative research on single-neuron dynamics and bioelectric circuits. He will use the grant to develop silicon-based biomaterials, with a long-term goal of understanding neurodegenerative diseases.
A new study found that 7-month-old infants who later develop autism show slower gaze shifting and attention reorientation compared to typically developing infants. The researchers suggest that atypical brain circuits, specifically the splenium of the corpus callosum, may contribute to this behavioral difference.
Infants with autism show subtle, measurable differences in attention as early as 7 months old. Researchers found a specific neural circuit causes the slower response, pointing to a problem with 'sticky attention'.
Researchers believe neural synchrony is key to understanding how the human brain perceives and processes information. Synchrony code suggests precise timing coordination across neurons is necessary to control brain circuits.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have identified a new brain circuit controlling whisker movements in newborn mice. The circuit reveals how motor neurons integrate inputs from the LPGi region of the brainstem to enable voluntary whisking behaviors, shedding light on neural control of finger movements in humans.
Stanford researchers used brain scans to scan the brain anatomy of 39 children once a year for three years. The scans revealed that children with above-average reading skills had specific nerve bundle FA values, while those with lower reading skills had high FA values that declined over time.
The MIT team has developed a synthetic biology circuit that integrates four sensors for different molecules, allowing cells to precisely monitor their environments and respond accordingly. The breakthrough was achieved by creating genetic components that don't interfere with each other, enabling the production of complex circuits.
A new study by Yale School of Medicine researchers found that natural birth triggers the expression of a protein called UCP2 in the brains of newborns, improving brain development and function in adulthood. In contrast, C-sections impaired UCP2 expression, leading to reduced hippocampal neuron development and related behaviors.
Researchers develop new technique to target specific neural circuits and find that indirect pathways play key role in skilled hand movements. The study uses a double viral vector transfection method to selectively suppress propriospinal neurons, revealing the function of this 'phylogenetically old circuit'.
Researchers found that motivation, a basic building block of human emotion, is computed mainly in the right hemisphere of the brain for left-handers, contrary to previous studies. This discovery has significant implications for the treatment of depression and anxiety disorders, which often involve targeting the left hemisphere.
A study published in Nature Communications reveals the progressive decline of function in cortical circuits due to Alzheimer's disease. Researchers observed correlations between beta-amyloid increases and dysfunctional developments in individual neurons, neuronal circuits, sensory cognition, and behavior.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a self-healing system that can restore electrical conductivity to cracked circuits in less time than it takes to blink, allowing devices to work longer and reducing waste. The system uses microcapsules that break open and release liquid metal to fill in gaps in the circuit.
Researchers aim to speed up data processing applications such as internet searching, data compression, and image recognition. They plan to utilize the spin degree of freedom to store and process information in a single chip.
Gina Turrigiano's concept of synaptic scaling resolves the paradox of maintaining stability and flexibility in neurons. Her laboratory has shown that neurons can 'tune' themselves by adjusting excitatory synaptic strengths to control output, while maintaining relative input strengths.
Dr. Ed Ruthazer's study shows that environmental stimulation enhances visual acuity and refines nerve cell connections in developing brains. The research identifies molecular mechanisms underlying the changes, including the activation of Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), which plays a key role in plasticity.
Researchers at Michigan Medicine observed key aspects of brain circuit development in living organisms, revealing two distinct types of competition between cells that shape memory circuits. The findings suggest that the brain eliminates inactive connections to maintain efficient neural networks, which is crucial for learning and memory.
Researchers at Yale University found that spontaneous brain activity in the womb plays a crucial role in shaping the visual system, challenging the idea that genes are the primary determinants of brain development.
A consortium of experts has developed a web-based platform to share tools and knowledge in hardware security and trust, aiming to establish criteria for determining IC trustworthiness and develop universal solutions for IC security.
Researchers at the Broad Institute have developed a method to measure how much messenger RNA is produced and degraded, revealing dynamic changes in RNA levels over time. The technique allows for high-resolution and comprehensive views of the RNA lifecycle, enabling scientists to investigate what happens when something goes wrong in cells.
The USC Viterbi team built a carbon nanotube synapse circuit that reproduces neuron input behavior, a significant step towards developing brain prostheses. The fabricated synapse is simplified, but understanding the process of human intelligence could lead to breakthroughs in prosthetic technology and intelligent cars.
The research shows that bonobos have more developed circuitry for key nodes within the limbic system, which may be responsible for their social tolerance. In contrast, chimpanzees have better-developed visual system pathways, possibly linked to their tool-use skills.
Researchers developed a biological memristor using human blood, exhibiting memory effects when exposed to voltage polarity and magnitude. The breakthrough demonstrates the potential for creating liquid memristors from human tissues, paving the way for future cyborg devices.
Researchers compiled a systematic catalog of transcription factors that control blood cell development, revealing densely interconnected circuits. The study found about 80 patterns of variable genes, or modules, which are reused in several parallel developmental branches.
UCLA is leading a $8.4 million DARPA-funded project to develop ultra-low power, non-volatile logic technologies. The research will explore materials, design, fabrication and tools for such technologies with broad implications across various fields including electronics, sensors and computing.
The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation has announced seven grants totaling $9.4 million for scientific research in neuroscience and cellular engineering. The grants will be awarded to researchers at universities and laboratories in Washington, California, Massachusetts, and New York, with a focus on advancing the study of aggression, neur...
Researchers have successfully made tiny high-frequency capacitors using a complex mineral, paving the way for high-frequency microwave applications. The capacitors, made from barium strontium titanate, exhibited excellent microwave properties up to 40 GHz.
A new study suggests that newborn mice develop cold sensing neural circuits around two weeks after birth, indicating a delay in the maturation of this circuit. This finding provides insight into the development of cold sensing and its potential impact on human health, particularly in children with altered temperature sensitivity.
The Inova Life Sciences Research Collaboration Fund – George Mason University has awarded $16 million in life sciences research grants to teams of joint Inova-Mason researchers. The grants focus on chronic disease management, obesity, heart disease, and other medical issues.
Mental disorders are likely caused by brain circuit abnormalities, resulting from developmental processes. Genetics play a crucial role in mental illness, with high heritability rates for conditions like autism, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.
A Stanford-led team has solved the mystery of how functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) signals are produced, confirming earlier assumptions about their relationship to neural excitation. The breakthrough enables researchers to study brain-wide impact of changes in neural circuitry using blood-flow fMRI combined with optogenetics.
At the AAAS Meeting, Caltech researchers presented on various topics including linear colliders, climate change, and earthquake science. Caltech's Alice Huang will be installed as the next president of the AAAS. Researchers discussed the Second Law of Thermodynamics and its implications for our understanding of time.
Neurobiologists at the University of Maryland discovered that the brain's auditory cortex is more complex and chaotic than previously thought, with neighboring neurons creating different outputs. This disorder could indicate that the brain is far more adaptable than previously thought.
Purdue researchers have developed finFETs using indium-gallium-arsenide, enabling faster and more compact circuits. The new technology may replace conventional silicon transistors and solve the industry's transistor limitations.
Researchers have developed a 'NanoPen' that solves the challenge of creating patterns of nanoparticles for nanotech applications. The device can deposit nanoparticles in seconds, unlike current techniques which take minutes or hours.
A study by the National Institute of Mental Health found that teenage girls' brains activate more in social emotion circuitry as they age, indicating a shift towards approach rather than avoidance. This may reflect resilience to psychosocial stress among healthy female adolescents.
A $6 million grant from DARPA will fund the development of self-healing circuits that can detect and fix flaws in transistors. The technology aims to enable continued Moore's scaling law by making integrated circuits more robust.
Researchers have developed a plasmonic switch using molecular machines, which can transmit electrons and light simultaneously. This technology has the potential to enable ultra-small computers with high storage capacity and processing speed.
Researchers have found a common genetic circuit controlling the formation of teeth in both jaws and throats of vertebrates. This discovery suggests that a core set of genes governs tooth development, regardless of location, and may also be involved in other patterned structures like hair and feathers.
Researchers discovered that nerves connecting to flexor muscles are guided by a protein family called ephrin-B, which is closely related to the previously identified ephrin-A protein. This finding provides insights into how nerves form and could lead to new strategies for treating disorders such as epilepsy and mental retardation.
Researchers have developed electronics that can withstand complex deformations, including twisting. Their 'pop-up' technology has been improved to create circuits that can bend, stretch, and twist, enabling new applications in medical and athletic fields.
A Duke University research team observed a naïve brain organizing itself to interpret images of motion for the first time. The study revealed that individual neurons develop specific responses and become organized into functional assemblies called cortical columns.
Pasko Rakic's work has revealed how neurons in the developing cerebral cortex are generated and assembled into highly ordered circuits. His discoveries have transformed our understanding of brain function and development, with implications for treatments of brain disorders.
A networked electronic display system allows store managers to quickly update prices on displays via a central computer, eliminating the need for physical price tag changes. The system uses small data packages transmitted between receivers and transmitters, ensuring fast and reliable price updates.
Experiments with rats reveal that severing connections between striatal regions decreases compulsive cocaine seeking behavior, highlighting the key role of the striatum in addiction. The findings suggest a complex neural mechanism underlying drug addiction development.
A recent study assesses global brain-computer interface (BCI) research, finding that BCI technologies are rapidly growing and approaching first-generation medical practice. The report predicts significant influence on the medical device industry and accelerated growth in non-medical arenas, including gaming and robotics.
The UCSD team created a 16-element phased array chip that can transmit at 30-50 GHz, reducing size, weight, and cost. The innovation enables breakthroughs in military sensor and communication systems, as well as commercial terrestrial communications.
The study found activation of specific areas in the prefrontal cortex when subjects knew they could face punishment for non-compliance. People with Machiavellian traits showed higher brain activity in these areas, suggesting a link to their selfish behavior.
Research suggests that a sensory organ in the noses of mammals differentiates male and female behavior, rather than the brain. Female mice with mutant vomeronasal organs adopt male behaviors like mounting and pelvic thrusting, abandoning maternal actions.
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 adult-born hippocampal neurons have similar properties to mature neurons, including excitatory and inhibitory input responses. This suggests that these cells can form connections indistinguishable from those developed in early life, potentially leading to new treatments for brain disorders.
Researchers at Cornell University have developed microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) using carbon fibers, which can bend and vibrate billions of times without breaking. The new display technology has the potential to be incredibly cheap and small enough to be built into cell phones.
Researchers at Purdue University have successfully grown individual carbon nanotubes vertically on a silicon wafer, paving the way for advanced electronics and sensing technologies. This breakthrough technique enables vertical integration of nanotubes, increasing device density and reducing size.
A team of researchers studied the courtship behavior of fruit flies to gain insight into the formation of innate behaviors. They found that a specific gene, Fruitless, plays a crucial role in controlling these behaviors.
Researchers at the Salk Institute identified V1 neurons as crucial for controlling rhythmic movements in the spinal cord, which enables walking. Disabling these neurons slows down the movement, highlighting their importance in locomotion.
Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory have developed a new method for creating nanoscale patterns and features on surfaces, known as Electro Pen Nanolithography (EPN). This technique allows for the creation of three-dimensional nanoscale landscapes and has potential applications in molecular electronics and biosensors.
Researchers at the Public University of Navarra have designed a new radiofrequency device using the Babinet Principle and meta-surfaces, enabling efficient mobile communications. The device also offers improved shielding capabilities for wireless communications, reducing interferences in buildings or rooms.
The new dielectric material has a high thermal stability, low moisture pick-up, and can withstand chemical-mechanical polishing. By adding porogens, the researchers lowered the dielectric constant to 1.85 while maintaining hardness and stiffness.
Researchers find adenosine controls timing of neural activity in developing visual system, shedding light on disorders like fetal anti-convulsant syndrome. The discovery could lead to new therapeutic approaches, such as recreating spontaneous waves of activity for adult retinas.
Recent studies have shed new light on how to decode nerve cell signals, simplifying the development of thought-controlled prosthetic devices. By analyzing activity in large populations of nerve cells, researchers hope to create more accurate brain-machine interfaces that can restore movement in paralyzed individuals.