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Dehydration’s role in learning and memory

Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory discovered how dehydration enables calcium to pass through the NMDAR channel, revealing key molecular mechanisms underlying learning and memory. This finding has implications for brain development and disease, including GRIN disorders that cause severe developmental disabilities.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateMay 18, 2026

Super-chilled brain cell molecules reveal how epilepsy drug works

Scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine have discovered the mechanism of action of the widely-used epilepsy drug perampanel, which targets the AMPA receptor to dampen brain cell excitability. The study provides new insights into the potential applications of perampanel in treating other neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease,...

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalNature Structural & Molecular Biology·DateJun 10, 2024

Plants under anaesthesia

The Venus flytrap has a sensitive system for stimulus transmission, with electrical impulses triggered by touch and transmitted quickly to catch prey. Anaesthetizing the plant with ether reveals that it does not react to touch during this time, mirroring human anaesthesia.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalScientific Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 18, 2022

Insight into the synapses

A recent study published in Science Advances has shed light on the molecular organization of synapses, revealing that glutamate receptors are directly connected to calcium channels and Munc-18-1. This new understanding could lead to a better comprehension of brain function and signal transmission.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalScience Advances·DateApr 16, 2020

A dietary supplement improves skills of an atypical Rett syndrome patient

A dietary supplement called L-serine has been shown to improve the neuronal function of a patient with a mutation associated with atypical Rett syndrome. The study, led by Dr Xavier Altafaj, found that supplementation with L-serine reversed alterations caused by the mutation and improved the patient's motor and communicative abilities.

Flipping a protein switch to illuminate brain functions

Scientists at Kyoto University have engineered an artificial switch that can selectively activate neurotransmitter receptors, a breakthrough that could contribute to the development of new drugs for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and ALS. This innovation sheds light on the role of these receptors in memory formation.

SourceKyoto University·JournalNature Chemistry·DateJun 27, 2016

Receptors inside nerve cells may be a key to controlling pain

Blocking receptors inside nerve cells may offer a more effective and safer pain relief option by reducing drug-induced side effects. The study found that targeting glutamate receptors in the nucleus of spinal nerve cells can effectively relieve neuropathic pain in rats, with no changes in pain sensitivity observed in normal rats.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 3, 2016

How repeated stress impairs memory

Research reveals that repeated stress affects memory by reducing glutamate receptors in the prefrontal cortex, impairing high-level cognitive processes. The study provides critical insight into how chronic stress influences mental illnesses and offers potential targets for prevention and treatment.

SourceCell Press·JournalNeuron·DateMar 7, 2012

Drugs to treat cocaine abuse?

A new study explores pharmacological strategies to reduce cocaine self-administration in animals, finding that dysregulation of mGlu2/3 and mGlu5 receptors may play a role in the transition to cocaine addiction. The research suggests that targeting mGlu2/3 receptors could be effective for treating severe cocaine-addicted individuals.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry·DateAug 10, 2010

Researchers explore the antidepressant effects of ketamine

A new study finds that ketamine's antidepressant effects are mediated by its ability to increase AMPA receptor stimulation, suggesting drugs enhancing this function may have rapid antidepressant properties. Researchers now aim to develop AMPA-boosting drugs without ketamine's side effects.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry·DateFeb 21, 2008