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A time for memories

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.

SourceUniversity of Leicester·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJan 23, 2014

Brain repair after injury and Alzheimer's disease

Scientists use reactive glial cells to regenerate healthy neurons in a breakthrough technology for treating brain injuries and Alzheimer's disease. In mouse models and human cell cultures, the method successfully converts glial cells into functional neurons.

SourcePenn State·JournalCell Stem Cell·DateDec 19, 2013

How our nerves keep firing

Researchers discovered ultrafast recycling of synaptic vesicles in nerve cells, allowing for rapid signal transmission and potentially protecting against neurodegenerative diseases. This process enables the brain and muscles to function continuously without interruption.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalNature·DateDec 4, 2013

Simulating Alzheimer's disease in transgenic mice

Researchers have developed an animal model to simulate the pathological process of Alzheimer's disease, focusing on the locus coeruleus. This study shows that degenerative alterations in noradrenergic neurons of the locus coeruleus are consistent with pathological changes observed in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

SourceNeural Regeneration Research·JournalNeural Regeneration Research·DateSep 5, 2013

Use it or lose it

A new study found that prolonged exposure to an enriched environment activates brain receptors, preventing amyloid beta protein from weakening nerve cell communication. This provides a molecular mechanism for why a richer environment can help lessen the memory-eroding effects of Alzheimer's disease.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalNeuron·DateMar 6, 2013

Ability of brain to protect itself from damage revealed

Researchers at the University of Oxford have identified a natural biological mechanism that allows brain cells to survive during a stroke, enabling the development of potential neuroprotective drugs. The 'endogenous neuroprotection' discovered in rats has shown to increase cell survival by stimulating production of hamartin protein.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalNature Medicine·DateFeb 24, 2013

Dickkopf makes fountain of youth in the brain run dry

A team of scientists from the German Cancer Research Center has discovered that silencing Dickkopf-1, a signaling molecule that promotes age-related cognitive decline, leads to increased neurogenesis in the hippocampus. This results in improved spatial orientation and memory performance in mice, even in advanced adult age.

SourceHelmholtz Association·JournalCell Stem Cell·DateFeb 7, 2013

How the brain stays receptive

Research reveals that Pannexin1 channel protein is critical for synaptic plasticity, a key process in learning and memory. Mice lacking Pannexin1 display autistic-like behavior and impaired spatial orientation, highlighting the importance of this channel for brain function.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJan 9, 2013

Where 'where it's at' is at in the brain

A new study in rats identifies a region called the postrhinal cortex that links objects to places in the brain, integrating spatial and nonspatial information upstream of the hippocampus. This finding has implications for treating traumatic brain injuries and neuropsychiatric diseases such as schizophrenia and depression.

SourceBrown University·JournalNeuron·DateDec 5, 2012

Learning requires rhythmical activity of neurons

Scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry found that effective signal transmission in the hippocampus requires theta-frequency impulses, generating waves that propagate through the brain. This discovery explains why we are more productive after drinking coffee or experiencing stress.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalFrontiers in Neural Circuits·DateSep 26, 2012

New target for Alzheimer's drugs

Researchers have identified beta-arrestin, a protein that supports connections between neurons, as a crucial link to short-term memory. By regulating synaptic plasticity, beta-arrestin plays a key role in the formation and disassembly of neural connections, which can help prevent Alzheimer's disease.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 8, 2012

Why the brain is more reluctant to function as we age

Researchers at the University of Bristol identified a novel cellular mechanism underlying age-related cognitive decline, revealing that changes to sodium channels contribute to decreased neuronal excitability. The study found that aged brain cells struggle to generate action potentials due to altered sodium channel activation properties.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalNeurobiology of Aging·DateFeb 1, 2012

Taxi driver training changes brain structure

A study by Eleanor Maguire found that taxi driver training increases gray matter in the hippocampus, a brain area responsible for memory and spatial navigation. The brain's plasticity allows it to adapt to new tasks, even in adulthood.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateDec 8, 2011

2-dimensional learning

Researchers found that passive viewing of 2D images can lead to sustained changes in nerve cell connections, facilitating the expression of persistent hippocampal long-term depression. This discovery has implications for developing strategies to improve digital learning and reduce apathy towards traditional teaching methods.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalCerebral Cortex·DateSep 26, 2011

MS research: Myelin influences how brain cells send signals

Researchers at Ohio State University have developed a cell-culture system that mimics the coating of nerve cells with protective myelin, opening up new possibilities for studying multiple sclerosis. The study found that myelin regulates key protein placement and activity in sending electrical signals along hippocampal axons.

SourceOhio State University·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateJul 21, 2011