Articles tagged with Hippocampal Neurons
Researchers at RIKEN Brain Science Institute have demonstrated that astrocytes regulate changes in synaptic strength, which is crucial for learning and memory. By examining cultured cells and brain slices, they found that astrocyte activity helps maintain normal variation of synaptic strengths.
A new study from MIT reveals how two populations of neurons in the amygdala form parallel channels that carry information about pleasant or unpleasant events. The findings suggest that to fully understand how the brain processes emotions, neuroscientists will have to delve deeper into more specific populations.
University of Wisconsin-Madison neuroscientist Xinyu Zhao has identified the genetic machinery that causes maturation in a young nerve cell, revealing four stages of gene activation. The study found hints about the origin of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's diseases and autism, suggesting a link between stem cell impairment and complex disorders.
A study published in Scientific Reports found that birds migrating greater distances have more new neurons in brain regions responsible for navigation and spatial orientation. The research team discovered a trend of increasing new neurons in line with migration distance, with different brain regions affected in two species.
The brain regulates the size of neuronal ensembles that reflect the memory trace to optimize performance, researchers from Université de Genève demonstrate. The study shows that inhibiting or resurfacing a memory can be achieved by targeting neurons in the hippocampus.
Adult brain neurogenesis is increased by sustained aerobic exercise, particularly in genetically predisposed rats, indicating a potential improvement in learning abilities. The study suggests that aerobic exercise, but not high-intensity interval training or resistance training, enhances hippocampal neurogenesis.
A Russian-US research team found that aggressive behavior leads to new nerve cells being generated in the brain, specifically in the hippocampus. This discovery could help understand aggression and its link to autism and other disorders.
Researchers discovered a cellular circuit in the mouse brain that enables it to remember safe environments and differentiate them from dangerous ones. The study found that disrupting this circuitry may contribute to conditions like posttraumatic stress and anxiety disorders.
Researchers found that axon initial segment (AIS) plasticity can occur quickly, influencing neuronal firing responses. After 3 hours of elevated activity, the AIS was shortened by approximately 25%, but did not immediately lead to reduced excitability.
A study published in Nature Communications reveals a mechanism by which the pathologic version of tau protein spreads from neuron to neuron in the brain, contributing to Alzheimer's disease progression. This process involves the release and uptake of high-molecular-weight, soluble tau proteins that are studded with phosphate molecules.
A new study shows that increasing caveolin-1 levels in nerve cells improves learning and memory in aged mice. The researchers believe this could be a path toward treating age-related memory loss and other conditions such as Alzheimer's disease.
Matthew Lovett-Barron received the $2,500 prize for his innovative approach combining pharmacogenetics, neural recordings, and optogenetics to study fear learning and its neural mechanisms. His work has significant implications for understanding panic and anxiety disorders.
Ocean cells differentiate environmental contexts, which are then sent to the hippocampus for memory formation. The entorhinal cortex plays a crucial role in context-dependent learning, and understanding Ocean cells' contribution may help diagnose Alzheimer's disease.
Neurons have developed ways to regulate their electrical activity, preventing overexcitability and non-functional neurons. A new study reveals that unique synapses along the axon initial segment (AIS) modulate neuronal output by acting directly on the AIS.
Research at Rockefeller University discovered that the recycling of a specific type of histone, H3.3, is essential for forming connections among neurons and facilitating learning throughout life. The study found that increased turnover of H3.3 is linked to neural activity and gene expression changes necessary for synapse formation.
A new study found that DNA breakage is a natural process that allows the brain to learn and generate memories, but weakens with age. Researchers discovered that DNA damage can lead to increased expression of genes involved in learning and memory, which could be detrimental as we age.
Scientists have identified a new neural circuit in the brain that tracks movement speed and delivers this information to spatial memory systems. This discovery has important implications for understanding movement-related symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease and improving spatial memory.
Scientists have discovered two distinct types of stem cells in the hippocampus, a region critical for learning and memory. The discovery may lead to new treatments for learning- and mood-related disorders.
Researchers at MIT have successfully reactivated lost memories in mice using optogenetics, revealing that memories are stored in a circuit of multiple brain areas and interconnected engram cells. This breakthrough challenges the long-held storage theory and proposes a new concept of memory consolidation.
Researchers have identified molecules associated with Alzheimer's disease as crucial players in long-term depression, a process that weakens synapse connections. These findings suggest potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Researchers have found that epilepsy reduces the generation of new neurons in the hippocampus, a brain region crucial for learning and stress response. The study's findings suggest that preserving neural stem cells could prevent or mitigate epilepsy symptoms.
Aromatase, an enzyme converting testosterone to estrogen, plays a significant role in the healthy and injured brain. In healthy brains, it helps neurons produce estrogen, maintaining cognitive function. After injury, aromatase expression shifts to astrocytes, aiding their support of stressed neurons and promoting recovery.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine found that grid cells in mice accumulate errors while navigating familiar spaces, which are corrected by border cells upon encountering a wall. This discovery supports the theory that these cells use sensory and motion data to construct internal maps.
Researchers at RIKEN Brain Science Institute identified IRBIT as a key player in regulating dopamine levels in the brain. The absence of IRBIT leads to hyperactivity and abnormal social behavior in mice, highlighting its role in maintaining balance.
A new study published in the Journal of Neuroscience found that visual objects are represented by a distributed network in the human brain. Researchers used single-neuron activity recordings from epilepsy patients to test the idea of
Researchers created a publicly available website, neuroelectro.org, to collect and standardize data on neuronal function. The site enables the comparison of physiological information across different types of neurons, promoting new methods of analysis.
Researchers have successfully developed an atomic force microscopy system that can image structural dynamics of living neurons with high spatial and temporal resolution. The new system enables analysis of cell morphology changes with a resolution ~20-100 fold better than that of a standard light microscope.
Scientists at the University of Chicago and the University of Illinois have developed a new technique using gold nanoparticles to stimulate normal, non-genetically modified neurons with light. The technique shows great promise for potential therapeutic use in diseases such as macular degeneration.
Neurons generate brain waves at distinct frequencies to communicate between brain regions, reinforcing correct guesses and weakening incorrect ones. Researchers found that beta (9-16 Hz) and theta (2-6 Hz) frequencies are used in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex during learning tasks.
The discovery of newborn neurons in adulthood challenges dogma, but their role in behavior and cognition is unclear. Environmental factors influence the birth of new neurons, which may aid adaptation to changing environments.
Researchers at UCI found that transplanted human neural stem cells can restore cognitive functions in rats with chemotherapy-induced damage. The study suggests that stem cell therapies may one day provide relief to patients suffering from cognitive impairments incurred as a result of their cancer treatments.
Researchers found that riluzole treatment boosted spatial memory and communication between neurons in aging rats. The drug promoted the growth of thin spines, which are rapidly adaptable, and increased synaptic clustering.
Researchers have identified neurons in the hippocampal formation that sense the direction of an animal's head and enable 3D navigation. This discovery supports the idea that these cells serve as a 3D neural compass.
A study published in Nature Neuroscience found that the hippocampus, a region involved in spatial learning and memory, reacts differently to virtual reality than it does to real-world environments. In the virtual world, hippocampal neurons fire randomly, whereas in the real world, they process activity with precision.
Researchers found that newly formed brain cells in the olfactory system maintain proper connections and are essential for recovery from disrupted states. The discovery challenges previous assumptions about neuronal development and suggests a constant supply of new neurons is necessary to stabilize the mature structure.
New Tel Aviv University research reveals a single-neuron 'hub' orchestrates the activity of an entire brain circuit. The study finds that timely activation of cells is fundamental for proper operation of hub neurons, which orchestrate entire network dynamics.
Researchers at the University of Bonn discovered a previously unknown nerve cell shape that allows signals to be transmitted directly from dendrites to axons, bypassing the cell body. This unique structure facilitates faster and more efficient communication between neurons.
Researchers found that geniposide, a component of the Chinese herbal formula Tongluojiunao, protects hippocampal neurons from Aβ1-mediated cell death via a non-classical estrogen signaling pathway. This study suggests a new potential therapeutic approach for Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers found that short-term environmental enrichment exposure can induce proliferation, activation, and maturation of doublecortin-positive cells in the prefrontal cortex of adult guinea pigs. This process may be involved in learning and memory associated with the prefrontal cortex.
Researchers at the University of Luxembourg have made a breakthrough in implanting neurons into mouse brains, demonstrating long-term stability and functional integration. The successful technique, which uses reprogrammed skin cells to produce healthy neurons, holds promise for treating neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease.
Researchers found brief exposure to a commonly used anesthetic reduced dendritic spine numbers and shape in rat brain cells, but this effect was reversible within weeks. The study provides insight into the potential risks of general anesthesia on developing brains and suggests that some cognitive effects may be slowly reversible.
Researchers discovered that CKAMP44 and TARP Gamma-8 proteins play a crucial role in controlling the flow of information into the hippocampus, a brain region essential for learning and memory. The proteins influence glutamate receptor activity, promoting or weakening synaptic connections, and enabling rapid sequence of signals.
Researchers found that somatosensory stimulation decreases the firing of pyramidal cells and increases interneuron activity, suggesting a suppressive effect on neuronal hyperexcitability. This study provides insights into signal processing in the hippocampus and explores potential therapeutic applications for brain disorders.
A team at Université de Genève identified a new cellular mechanism involving non-neuronal cells called astrocytes that stabilize neuron connections. This process protects synapses and allows learning to leave a mark on memory. The study sheds light on the importance of astrocytes in learning, memory, and neurodegenerative diseases.
Scientists transplanted inhibitory neuron progenitors into two mouse models of Alzheimer's disease, improving learning and memory abilities. The treatment replenished brain cells lost due to apoE4, regulating brain activity.
Chrysophanol alleviated hippocampal neuronal cytoplasmic edema and improved learning and memory abilities in lead-exposed neonatal mice. The compound also reduced oxidative stress markers and increased antioxidant defenses.
Levothyroxine treatment improved cognitive and learning abilities in naturally aged mice by increasing choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholine levels. The supplement also enhanced superoxide dismutase activity and synapse function, suggesting a potential therapeutic strategy for age-related cognitive deficits.
Researchers found that some brain cells in the amygdala respond to judgments based on a viewer's subjective opinions rather than true emotion expressed. This discovery may provide insight into anxiety and unprovoked fear.
Researchers discovered that amyloid-beta binds to pairs of APP molecules, triggering a signalling cascade that causes elevated neuronal activity in the hippocampus. This hyperactivity damages memory and learning functions and is observed in patients with mild cognitive impairment and early stages of Alzheimer's disease.
A new study suggests that blocking endocannabinoids, the brain's internal versions of marijuana's psychoactive chemicals, may trigger early Alzheimer's deficits. A-beta, a substance strongly suspected to play a key role in Alzheimer's, impairs learning and memory by blocking endocannabinoids' beneficial action in the brain.
A mouse study found that NAD levels decrease with age in the brain, leading to a loss of neural stem cell function. The researchers discovered that supplementing NAD synthesis could prevent this decline, offering potential therapeutic implications.
Research published in Neural Regeneration Research found that geniposide, a component of the Chinese herbal formula Tongluojiunao, protects hippocampal neurons from Aβ-mediated death via non-classical estrogen signaling pathway. This suggests a potential therapeutic application for Alzheimer's disease treatment.
Short-term environmental enrichment exposure induces proliferation, activation and maturation of doublecortin-positive cells in the prefrontal cortex of adult guinea pigs. These alterations may be involved in learning and memory associated with the prefrontal cortex.
Astrocytes are support cells for neurons that provide nutrients and signaling molecules. A new mouse study reveals that astrocytes listen in on neuronal activity only during large bursts of activation, triggering a response with increased calcium levels.
A new study reveals that REST, a gene regulator active during fetal brain development, switches back on later in life to protect aging neurons from various stresses. The researchers also showed that REST is lost in critical brain regions of people with Alzheimer's and mild cognitive impairment.
Researchers discovered a pattern of damage in the hippocampus — the brain's memory center — similar to humans with temporal lobe epilepsy. Sea lions exposed to domoic acid developed seizures and extensive brain damage due to toxin accumulation in anchovies and other small fish fed on by sea lions.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have found that individual cells in the hippocampus use small electrical fields to stimulate and synchronize neighboring cells, spreading activity layer by layer. This discovery suggests a possible novel target for seizure-blocking medicines.
Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine developed a mouse model with fluorescently tagged beta-actin mRNA, allowing them to observe the molecular processes that culminate in memories. The study revealed a novel mechanism by which brain neurons control the synthesis of beta-actin protein.
Researchers at the University of Leicester used intracranial electrodes to record single neurons in epilepsy patients and found a specific brain response marking the timing of these neuron firings. This response, present for consciously recognized pictures, is thought to be a gateway for processing stimuli to form memories.
Ueli Rutishauser, a young scientist at Cedars-Sinai, has made significant contributions to understanding the brain's role in learning, memory, and decision-making. His research has improved our understanding of autism and learning disorders, as well as the effects of epilepsy on the nervous system.