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Seeing memories form

Researchers studied mossy fiber synapses in the hippocampus, a crucial region for memory formation and spatial navigation. They discovered that specific proteins play key roles in encoding and processing distinguishing features to trigger memory retrieval.

SourceInstitute of Science and Technology Austria·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeImaging analysis·DateNov 20, 2024
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

A new field of neuroscience aims to map connections in the brain

Researchers aim to create comprehensive maps of how neurons connect to each other, exploring neural circuits that underlie behavior. By studying connectivity and neural activity, scientists hope to understand the structure of the brain and its role in our sense of self.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalNature·DateJan 23, 2023

Mutated enzyme weakens connection between brain cells that help control movement

Researchers found a mutation in ELOVL4 enzyme impairs communication between neurons, leading to impaired motor control and coordination. The study provides new insights into the essential role of ELOVL4 in motor function and synaptic plasticity, suggesting potential therapeutic strategies for patients with spinocerebellar ataxia.

SourceMedical College of Georgia at Augusta University·JournalMolecular Neurobiology·DateAug 17, 2021
Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.

Brain injury lab receives additional federal funding to boost research

Researchers at UC Riverside's Brain Injury Lab have received significant federal funding to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic epilepsy. Two graduate students, Laura Dovek and Susan Nguyen, have each won prestigious fellowships to study the role of immune receptors in the developme...

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·DateJul 12, 2021

Remembering novelty

Researchers have identified a new key player in long-term memory formation, the connection between mossy cells and granule cells in the hippocampus. This discovery sheds light on how new environments are processed and stored in the brain.

SourceInstitute of Science and Technology Austria·JournalCurrent Biology·DateOct 15, 2020

The bouncer in the brain

Researchers identify granule cells as gatekeepers of the hippocampus, filtering out irrelevant information. These cells also appear to be involved in processing spatial information, converting grid cell activity into place cell activity.

SourceInstitute of Science and Technology Austria·JournalNeuron·DateAug 6, 2020
Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Possible physical trace of short-term memory found

Researchers have discovered a possible physical trace of short-term memory, known as an engram, in the brain's synapses. The study found that vesicles containing neurotransmitters are stored at the pre-synaptic terminal after a granule cell fires, inducing plasticity and strengthening communication between neurons.

SourceInstitute of Science and Technology Austria·JournalNeuron·DateJun 2, 2020

Between arousal and inhibition

Scientists have found that granule cells and interneurons in the brain process incoming signals differently due to their distinct structures and functional characteristics. This discovery sheds light on how malfunctions can arise in information processing, leading to memory impairments and neurological disorders.

SourceUniversity of Freiburg·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 5, 2019

An ion channel differentiates newborn and mature neurons in the adult brain

Newborn granule cells in the dentate gyrus become less excitable after three weeks, a crucial step for mature functioning. The researchers found that functional GIRK channels start to appear at this stage, controlled by G protein signaling, and contribute to lowering excitability of mature dentate granule cells.

SourceUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham·DateAug 10, 2018

Thorny life of newborn neurons

Researchers found that frequent nerve signals strengthen dendritic spines in adult-born neurons, allowing them to connect with the existing neural network. This process is crucial for learning and memory formation in the hippocampus.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 8, 2018
Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Brain plasticity: How adult-born neurons get wired-in

Adult-born neurons in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus can form connections with cortical neurons through a competitive process, promoting network plasticity. This redistribution of synapses between old and new neurons may disrupt existing memories and contribute to improved information acquisition.

SourceUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham·DateFeb 2, 2017

WSU researcher finds mechanism affecting alcohol consumption

A Washington State University researcher has identified a mechanism in the cerebellum of the brain that influences an animal's likelihood of heavy drinking. This discovery offers a potential new target for drug therapies aimed at reducing excessive alcohol consumption, particularly among problem drinkers.

SourceWashington State University·DateAug 30, 2016

Unlocking the secrets of nerve regeneration

Researchers discovered that cutting parallel fibres in normal mice results in three distinct phases of degeneration, hypertrophy, and remodelling. In contrast, mice lacking the GluD2 receptor remain stuck in the degenerative phase. This suggests that GluD2 plays a crucial role in regulating nerve regeneration.

SourceHokkaido University·DateJun 29, 2016
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Growing functioning brain tissue in 3-D

Scientists at RIKEN have successfully induced human embryonic stem cells to self-organize into a three-dimensional structure resembling the cerebellum. The resulting neurons demonstrated proper responses to currents and inhibition, indicating functional development. This breakthrough could lead to modeling of cerebellar diseases like s...

SourceRIKEN·JournalCell Reports·DateJan 29, 2015

Scientists find new clues to brain's wiring

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine have identified a group of proteins that program common type of brain nerve cell to connect with another type of nerve cell. This finding is an important step forward in understanding the causes of intellectual disability and autism by learning how developing brain is built.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalNeuron·DateJul 18, 2014

Brain waves encode information as time signals

The study reveals that theta-gamma oscillations in the hippocampus are generated by excitatory and inhibitory synaptic signals, which provide rhythmic signals for temporal coding. The researchers also found that granule cell neurons send signals only at specific times during the cycle of oscillations.

SourceInstitute of Science and Technology Austria·JournalNeuron·DateDec 16, 2013
Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

Some brain cells are better virus fighters

Research reveals that certain brain cells are better equipped to fight off viral infections due to their unique immune defense mechanisms. The study found that granule cell neurons, which rarely become infected, have different gene profiles compared to cortical neurons, making them more resistant to infection.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalNature Medicine·DateMar 6, 2013

Newly found 'volume control' in the brain promotes learning, memory

Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center have discovered a new mechanism that regulates neuronal activity in the hippocampus, allowing for efficient learning and memory processing. The study reveals that synapses between different groups of neurons act as 'volume control', maintaining optimal levels of neurotransmission.

SourceGeorgetown University Medical Center·JournalNeuron·DateJan 9, 2013

Scientists show biological mechanism can trigger epileptic seizures

Researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center discovered a biological mechanism that causes brain seizures in mice with molecular disruptions in small neurons called granule cells. Treating epileptic mice with a drug that blocks the mTOR pathway stopped seizures, solidifying the link to the PTEN-mTOR pathway.

SourceCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center·JournalNeuron·DateSep 19, 2012

Sensory experience and rest control survival of newborn neurons in adults

Research reveals that newborn neurons in adults are more likely to survive if they undergo sensory experience followed by a period of rest. This survival is linked to structural reorganization of the olfactory bulb after feeding, and prior olfactory sensory experience enhances neuronal survival during sleep.

SourceCell Press·JournalNeuron·DateSep 7, 2011
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

New neurons take 6 months or more to mature in non-human primate brain

Researchers found that new neurons in adult monkeys take more than six months to mature, which challenges the notion that this process is related to the effectiveness of antidepressant medications. This finding suggests that the human brain may experience even longer maturation periods due to its larger size.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 6, 2011

Trial and error: The brain learns from mistakes

Researchers have identified a protein that corrects errors in the brain's neuronal connections during development. Bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) helps eliminate incorrect connections, establishing proper specificity in the cerebellum and potentially contributing to neurological disorders like autism.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateFeb 8, 2011
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

Newborn neurons in the adult brain can settle in the wrong neighborhood

Researchers at the Salk Institute found that a protein called cdk5 is necessary for correct neural migration and dendritic pathfinding in adult brains. Disabling cdk5 made newborn neurons form connections in the wrong part of the brain, with inappropriate synaptic connections persisting for months after treatment.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalPLOS Biology·DateNov 10, 2008

Chemical cues turn embryonic stem cells into cerebellar neurons

Researchers at Rockefeller University successfully differentiated embryonic stem cells into fully functional granule neurons, the most plentiful neuron in the cerebellum. This breakthrough study marks a significant step toward understanding how to regulate embryonic stem cells and potentially use them for cell replacement therapy.

SourceRockefeller University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 14, 2007

New neurons could act to alleviate epilepsy

Researchers found that new neurons generated in response to epilepsy have reduced excitability and increased inhibitory connectivity, potentially alleviating the disorder. These findings suggest that therapies aimed at inducing neurogenesis could prove effective.

SourceCell Press·JournalNeuron·DateDec 20, 2006
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

Unraveling the secrets of the brain's smallest cells

Scientists have successfully measured the activity of a single granule cell in an intact brain using patch-clamping technique, confirming predictions made over 30 years ago by David Marr. This breakthrough could lead to better understanding and treatment of movement disorders like ataxia and dysmetria.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalNature·DateApr 21, 2004

Brain calcium sensor reflects cognitive deficits of Alzheimer's disease

A study found that Alzheimer's disease alters a protein called calbindin in brain cells, leading to cognitive deficits. Calbindin levels in granule cells were strongly correlated with cognitive decline in genetically engineered mice and human patients.

SourceUniversity of California - San Francisco·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 14, 2003