Articles tagged with Cellular Neuroscience
New research shows that rhythmic brain activity helps organize transient bursts of activity in the brain to maintain short-term connections. Brain rhythms coordinate overlapping populations of neurons to store different pieces of information at the same time.
Researchers have discovered that the amygdala uses specialized neurons to learn about threats and rewards, a finding that could lead to more effective treatments for anxiety and drug addiction. By studying how these neurons respond differently to various stimuli, scientists have gained insights into the brain's reward system.
Research suggests astrocytes integrate external sensory inputs with internal states to modify calcium signaling towards neurons. This process could be crucial for behavioral responses and memory formation.
Researchers have identified a common amino acid, glycine, as a potential trigger for major depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders. The discovery improves understanding of the biological causes of major depression and could accelerate efforts to develop new medications.
Researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have discovered that the orientation of a single amino acid in peptides can direct activation to specific neurons, influencing communication among brain cells. This finding has far-reaching implications for understanding and regulating signaling processes in the brain.
A team of researchers has created the first-ever insect whole-brain connectome for a Drosophila larva, mapping 3016 neurons and 548,000 synapses. The detailed analysis reveals extensive multisensory integration and cross-hemisphere interaction, with some neural structures resembling those found in machine learning networks.
The Center for C. elegans Anatomy is receiving $2.6 million in funding from the NIH to expand WormAtlas, a resource for researchers studying C. elegans and other nematodes. The expansion aims to incorporate new nematode species into the atlas, enabling comparisons between C. elegans and less-studied species.
A study found that gestational iron deficiency may contribute to cognitive impairments like autism, ADHD, and learning disabilities. Researchers identified a specific embryonic neuronal progenitor cell target for GID, which disrupts interneuron development.
Researchers have identified a key cause of metastasis from aggressive brain cancer in children and found a potential new therapy. Medulloblastoma cells hijack neurodevelopmental signaling pathways to promote tumor cell spreading. Targeting these pathways with a drug called dasatinib has shown promise in killing metastatic tumors.
A study found that RNA methylation plays a pivotal role in TDP-43-related neurodegeneration in ALS. The researchers observed highly abundant RNA methylation in the end-stage tissues of patients with ALS. This discovery opens up new avenues for research into the disease, which is linked to environmental exposure.
Researchers have discovered volatile compounds in tsetse flies that control mating behavior and potentially aid disease management. The findings may lead to the development of new tools to combat trypanosomiasis, a life-threatening illness transmitted by these insects.
Scientists identify ERBB2 pathway as key to promoting regeneration of cochlear hair cells, a crucial step towards treating hearing loss. The study's findings offer new hope for restoring auditory function after damage in mammals.
Researchers identify 'thermal cortex' in posterior insular cortex of mice brains, finding specific cold-responding neurons for warmth and vice versa. The discovery sheds light on temperature perception and may help understand complex surface structures and brain diseases.
Researchers at the University of Queensland discovered two distinct processes in the human brain when exposed to prolonged or repeated sensory inputs. These findings could provide clues for understanding and treating sensory brain disorders.
Researchers found that abnormal methylation processes lead to disruption of gene expression essential for brain development in people with Williams syndrome. The study suggests targeting treatments to correct these disruptions.
Researchers found that excessive mechanosensation in sensory neurons can disrupt musculoskeletal development, causing joint deformities like arthrogryposis. Reducing heightened sensory neuronal activity through Botox or a special diet during critical age may be a viable treatment for some musculoskeletal conditions.
Researchers discovered that distinct layer-specific neuronal circuits in the primary motor cortex modulate both sensory and emotional components of chronic pain in mice. Activation of specific pathways suppressed sensory hypersensitivity to pain and reduced negative emotional and behavioral components.
Neuroscientists have uncovered a brain circuit that enables mice to rapidly escape to shelter when faced with a threat. The retrosplenial cortex and superior colliculus form a circuit that encodes the direction to a shelter, allowing mice to accurately orient and escape.
UCSF researchers identified glioma's cellular source of recurrent disease, finding cells shift to mesenchymal, radiation-resistant phenotype in response to standard therapy. Paracrine signals from tumor microenvironment drive this transition through AP1 pathway, leading to therapy resistance and tumor recurrence.
Researchers developed a new method to target diseased neurons using light, changing their long-term behavior. The approach uses light-sensitive enzymes to create insulating or conductive coatings on cell membranes, tuning excitability in neurons.
Researchers developed a novel optical technique to directly monitor cerebral oxygen consumption and blood flow in real-time. The technique uses phosphorescent probes to track the brain's oxygen gradient, providing valuable insights into brain activity and metabolism.
Researchers discovered that krill oil protects dopaminergic neurons from age-related degeneration through temporal transcriptome rewiring and suppression of several hallmarks of aging. Krill oil increases neuronal resilience, promoting anti-oxidative stress and anti-inflammation, and abrogating multiple aging hallmarks.
Researchers have identified a new gene, NUCL-1, in the transparent roundworm C. elegans, which is linked to human neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS and Alzheimer's. The discovery challenges recent theories on the role of nuclear structures in these disorders.
A new study by University of Wisconsin-Madison professor Andre Sousa investigates the differences and similarities of cells in the prefrontal cortex between humans and non-human primates. The researchers found five cell types unique to humans and differences in cell abundance across species.
A new study presents a closed-loop gene therapy approach that targets only overactive neurons, reducing spontaneous seizures in mice. The approach uses the Fos gene to control the Kcna1 gene, promoting reduced neuronal excitability and offering a persistent antiepileptic effect.
Researchers have developed a new gene therapy that selectively targets overactive brain cells, reducing excitability and suppressing seizures in mice. The treatment shows promise for treating neurological disorders such as epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, and pain disorders.
Researchers will investigate immune system differences between men and women to better understand neurodegenerative diseases. The study aims to identify why certain neurological diseases primarily affect males or females, and how this difference impacts disease progression.
Researchers at Linköping University identified the brain cells necessary for a fever reaction in mice, finding that prostaglandin production in these cells is both necessary and sufficient for triggering a fever response. This breakthrough sheds light on the body's defense mechanism against infection and inflammation.
The study found that human neocortical pyramidal neurons have a more elaborate structure than other mammals, with larger and more complex dendritic trees. This enhancement may contribute to the brain's increased processing power. The research has implications for understanding how the brain is affected in diseases such as epilepsy.
A new CAPSTONE study aims to identify inflammatory biomarkers associated with positive and poor outcomes in patients after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) strokes. By analyzing patient blood and plasma samples, researchers hope to develop targeted treatments to prevent long-term brain degeneration.
Dr. Inagaki will receive $2.895 million in funding to study the brain's ability to learn new behaviors and explore its molecular and neuronal activity. He aims to understand diseases and injuries that affect learning and memory.
Research reveals Alzheimer's disease genomic changes occur primarily in non-neuronal brain cells, rather than neurons. The study found a number of new genes not previously implicated in dementia, which could be targets for future drug development.
Researchers from Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University found that brain stimulation combined with a nose spray containing nanoparticles can improve recovery after ischemic stroke. The treatment increased cognitive and motor functions, and weighed more quickly than those treated with TMS alone.
The Allen Institute is leading a global collaboration to create detailed atlases of the human brain and its cells. The project aims to understand brain function and structure, with applications in treating diseases of the brain.
Researchers at UTHealth Houston will create a coordinating unit for biostatistics, informatics, and engagement to advance knowledge about human brain neurons. The project aims to produce an open-access digital brain cell reference atlas to improve understanding of neurological functions and disorders.
The study reveals that somatostatin neurons act as highly coordinated subpopulations throughout the cortex, with local networks tailored to specific cognitive processes. This finding highlights the specialized roles of somatostatin neurons in different brain regions.
Biochemists have discovered that glutathione, an antioxidant, plays a crucial role in moving iron-sulfur cofactors across cell membranes. This finding could lead to better understanding and treatment of diseases caused by impaired iron metabolism, such as Friedreich's ataxia.
Researchers used single-cell and spatial transcriptomics to investigate cell type evolution in reptiles and amphibians, revealing diverse cell types and regions that evolved independently. The studies also highlighted the importance of data sharing and the power of accumulating single-cell data from multiple species for evolutionary co...
Researchers found that GnRH therapy improved cognitive function in male patients with Down syndrome, reversing olfactory and cognitive defects. The treatment did not affect olfaction but increased cognitive performance in all but one participant.
A new study published in Frontiers found that excessive blue light exposure can alter cellular functions in fruit flies, potentially leading to accelerated aging. The researchers discovered changes in metabolites essential for cell function and communication between neurons.
Researchers at CUNY Graduate Center explore how particles and cells give rise to large-scale dynamics that we experience as the passage of time. They found that the arrow of time emerges from simple interactions between pairs of neurons, not large groups. This discovery has implications for physics, neuroscience, and biology.
Researchers discover glycoprotein GPNMB as a possible biomarker for Parkinson's Disease risk through interaction with alpha-synuclein and increased plasma concentrations in patients. The study establishes GPNMB as a risk gene and potential therapeutic target for the debilitating neurodegenerative brain disorder.
A new study introduces a novel epigenetic predictor, PCBrainAge, that captures aging heterogeneity across multiple brain regions. The tool demonstrates stronger associations with AD dementia and pathologic AD compared to existing age predictors.
Researchers at University of Cincinnati and Case Western Reserve University found a novel drug enables nervous system repair and functional recovery in animal models of severe ischemic stroke. The study demonstrated significant improvement in motor function, sensory function, spatial learning, and memory. NVG-291-R repairs damage throu...
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 team of researchers has used advanced techniques to identify immature hippocampal neurons in significant numbers throughout the human lifespan. The findings resolve a long-running controversy over adult neurogenesis and provide insights into brain plasticity, memory, mood, behavior, and brain disorders.
Researchers elucidated the molecular mechanisms of acetylcholine in learning and memory, revealing a signaling cascade involving protein kinase C. The study opens doors to new therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer's disease.
The WVU program trains next generation of toxicologists to collect, analyze air samples from mining, fracking sites, using the university's Inhalation Facility. Students will work with preceptors from various fields to investigate health effects of inhaling toxicants.
Researchers at the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre discovered that brain area communication is dynamic and changes over rapid timespans, with influences varying on a fast timescale. This finding suggests that cortical areas may control different aspects of processing in downstream regions over very short time spans.
Researchers discovered two novel categories of cells in the BLA that respond to ethological stimuli, including event-specific neurons responding to one type of stimulus and panresponsive neurons responding equally well to multiple stimuli. These findings suggest a larger role for the BLA in memory and behavior.
Neuroscientists at Johns Hopkins University have pinpointed a mechanism in the brain responsible for age-related memory loss. The hippocampus' CA3 region plays a critical role in pattern separation and completion, which become imbalanced with aging, leading to impaired memory.
A recent study published in Neuron reveals that general anesthesia induces synchronized activity in layer 5 pyramidal neurons, leading to the loss of consciousness. This finding has significant implications for the development of better anesthetic drugs and improved surgical outcomes.
Researchers have discovered a new sleep molecule, microRNA-137 (miR-137), that regulates hypocretin levels for normal sleep. The study found that miR-137 is associated with hypocretin regulation and sleep disorders such as narcolepsy and insomnia.
Scientists have created a new technology using colour pigments from the food industry to stimulate nerve cells with the help of implantable mini solar cells. This innovation could lead to accelerated healing and prevention of complications in severe brain injuries, as well as potential applications in pain therapy and retinal implants.
Researchers have identified the complete series of 10 factors that regulate the development of brain cell types in the visual system of fruit flies. This discovery opens new avenues of research to understand how brain development evolved in different animals and holds clues for regenerative medicine.
Researchers discovered that an inorganic polyphosphate released by nerve cells contributes to the death of motor neurons in people with ALS and frontotemporal dementia. The study found that lowering levels of this toxin may be an innovative therapeutic strategy for diverse types of ALS/FTD.
A study found that intact astrocyte networks are essential for neural homeostasis, synaptic plasticity, and spatial cognitive abilities in adult mice. Disrupting these networks impairs spatial learning and memory due to altered neuronal excitability and compromised synaptic transmission.
A new discovery by VUB professor Ann Massie's research group reveals a strategy that prolongs life expectancy and preserves hippocampal function in the aging brain. The absence of system xc- has positive effects on mouse longevity and cognitive function, challenging current understanding of the aging process.
Researchers discovered non-hallucinogenic psychedelic analogs that demonstrate therapeutic effects, offering an alternative solution to the characteristic hallucinations of traditional psychedelics. The findings may lead to the development of safe and effective drugs for treating PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
Acute COVID-19 infection can lead to various neurological symptoms, including confusion, stroke, and depression, which persist months after infection. The authors propose possible mechanisms, such as vascular and immune dysfunction, that may give rise to these symptoms and trigger future neurodegenerative diseases.