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New research confirms that neurons form in the adult brain

Researchers from Karolinska Institutet have identified proliferating neural progenitors in the adult human hippocampus, confirming ongoing neuron formation. This discovery has implications for understanding brain changes during life and developing regenerative treatments for neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 3, 2025

Targeting newly-identified brain protein brings hope of new treatment for Parkinson's disease

Researchers at the University of Sydney have identified a new brain protein involved in Parkinson's disease and found that targeting it with a drug treatment improved motor function in experimental models. The study suggests that this approach could slow or stop the progression of Parkinson's disease in humans.

SourceUniversity of Sydney·JournalActa Neuropathologica Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 25, 2025

Vesicle cycle model reveals inner workings of brain synapse

Researchers have successfully modeled the synaptic vesicle cycle with unprecedented detail, shedding new light on how our brains function. The model predicts parameters of synaptic function that could not be tested experimentally, opening new avenues for neuroscience investigations.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalScience Advances·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 28, 2025

How the brain allows us to infer emotions

Researchers have identified the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) as the basis of emotional inference in animals and humans. In a study published in Nature, Xiaowei Gu and Joshua Johansen found that rats can learn inferred emotions by associating a neutral stimulus with an unpleasant experience.

SourceRIKEN·JournalNature·DateMay 14, 2025

Major themes and growth areas in the application of AI in the neurosciences shown in inaugural issue of AI in neuroscience

A new review article identifies major themes in AI application to neurosciences, including a 5-fold increase in AI-related publications. The study also notes a surge of over 13-fold in clinical neurology AI-related publications in the past decade.

SourceMary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News·JournalAI in Neuroscience·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 22, 2025

$17.9M NIH grant to research neurodevelopment disorders

The research aims to understand how high-risk genes disrupt neurodevelopment and lead to neuropsychiatric conditions, potentially informing diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. A national team of researchers will examine the effects of these genes on brain development, connectivity, and behavior in a mouse model.

Key players in brain aging: New research identifies age-related damage on a cellular level

Scientists at the Allen Institute have identified specific cell types in the brain that undergo major changes with age, which could lead to new treatments for age-related brain diseases. The study provides a detailed map of brain cells affected by aging and highlights potential connections between diet, inflammation, and brain health.

SourceAllen Institute·JournalNature·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 1, 2025

A new clock to structure sleep

Researchers identified a novel role for the locus coeruleus in facilitating transition between NREM and REM sleep states while maintaining unconscious vigilance. Stress disrupts its functions, negatively impacting sleep quality. The study provides crucial insights into sleep disorders and could lead to improved treatments.

SourceUniversity of Lausanne·JournalNature Neuroscience·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 25, 2024

Study shows that Rett syndrome in females is not just less severe, but different

Researchers found that female mouse models of Rett syndrome have a mosaic-like distribution of cells expressing wild-type and mutant MeCP2 protein, leading to dysregulated genes. The study also discovered an unusual disease progression, with females having more dysregulated genes at the pre-symptomatic stage than later on.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis Health·JournalCommunications Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 17, 2024

UVM scientist maps fruit fly brain

A team of scientists has successfully mapped the entire brain of Drosophila melanogaster, a fruit fly, using electron microscopy dataset and connectome analysis. The complete map will help researchers understand how different circuits work together to control behaviors like motor control, courtship, and decision-making.

SourceUniversity of Vermont·JournalNature·TypeObservational study·DateOct 2, 2024

Brain development: extracellular vesicles facilitate cellular communication

Research led by Silvia Cappello reveals that extracellular vesicles play a crucial role in the development of the brain, facilitating communication between different cell types. The study found that these vesicles can transport specific molecular signals to the nucleus of recipient cells, inducing rapid transcriptional changes and infl...

SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalCell Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 25, 2024

New drug molecule could lead to new treatments for Parkinson’s disease in younger patients

A novel drug molecule has been found to reactivate a crucial protein called parkin, which plays a key role in maintaining healthy brain cells. The study's findings lay the foundation for the design of personalized treatments for younger patients with specific mutations, offering new hope for a cure for Parkinson's disease.

SourceMcGill University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 20, 2024

How the brain's inner chamber governs our state of consciousness

A new study published in Nature Communications reveals how propofol sedation alters the connections between brain cells in the thalamus and cortex, shedding light on the neural mechanisms underlying consciousness. The researchers found that disruptions to the matrix cells' activity play a crucial role in the transition to unconsciousness.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 9, 2024

Flexible tentacle electrodes precisely record brain activity

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed ultra-flexible tentacle electrodes that can precisely record brain activity over extended periods, enabling detailed analysis of neural activity. The technology has the potential to diagnose and treat neurological disorders such as epilepsy, depression, and schizophrenia.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 4, 2024

Navigating the future: brain cells that plan where to go

Researchers have discovered a new type of brain cell in the medial entorhinal cortex that accurately predicts future locations as an animal travels. This discovery helps explain how planned spatial navigation is possible and has important implications for understanding mechanisms of spatial navigation and episodic memory formation.

SourceRIKEN·JournalScience·DateAug 15, 2024

Neuroscience research leverages stem cells to understand how neurons connect and communicate in the brain

Researchers at Colorado State University used human stem cells to study synaptic connections in the brain, focusing on GABAergic synapses. They found that Gephyrin promotes autonomous assembly of these synapses, which can develop independently of neuronal communication. This understanding could lead to new treatments for neurological d...

SourceColorado State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 26, 2024