Scientists have observed changes in brain cells' signal transmission during learning processes, shedding light on the brain's adaptability. The study found that axon initial segments, responsible for generating electrical signals, can lengthen or shorten in response to experiences, influencing neuronal activity.
Researchers at Uppsala University have developed an artificial tactile system that can detect pressure by touch in a similar way to the human nervous system. The technology has the potential to restore lost functionality to patients after a stroke, as well as enhance interactions between humans and robots.
Indiana University researchers have found that nicotinamide nucleotide adenylyl transferase 2 (NMNAT2) plays a critical role in protecting the brain from aging and neurodegenerative diseases. The enzyme provides energy to axons, enabling them to carry out nerve impulses and maintain healthy function.
Researchers have created a magnetoelectric material that can directly stimulate neural tissue, potentially treating neurological disorders and nerve damage. The material generates an electric signal that neurons can detect, overcoming previous limitations.
Researchers have created wearable microscopes to produce high-definition, real-time images of mouse spinal cord activity across previously inaccessible regions. This technology enables unprecedented insight into the neural basis of sensations and movement in healthy and disease contexts.
Researchers at Aarhus University are developing a novel treatment for multiple sclerosis by spinning artificial nerve fibers using electro-spun fibres. The goal is to restore nerve impulses quickly, as the myelin sheath deteriorates with age.
Researchers at the University of New South Wales have developed optrodes that can measure neural activity using light, potentially revolutionizing medical technologies like nerve-operated prosthetics. The new approach addresses long-standing issues with impedance mismatch and crosstalk, paving the way for more complex neural networks.
Researchers from Rice University, Duke University, Brown University and Baylor College of Medicine developed a magnetic technology to wirelessly control neural circuits in fruit flies. They used genetic engineering to express heat-sensitive ion channels in neurons that control the behavior, and iron nanoparticles to activate the channels.
Researchers at City University of Hong Kong have identified the key mechanism behind roundworms' precise bowel movements, revealing a synchronized nerve impulse between the brain and gut. The study found that the AVL nerve cell in the head regulates the defecation rhythm by relaying and modulating pacemaker signals from the gut.
Rice University engineers have developed a tiny, wireless device that can stimulate nerves and treat neurological diseases. The implant, powered by a magnetic transmitter, uses blood vessels as guides to reach targeted nerves.
Researchers created a bionic arm that combines intuitive motor control with touch and hand movement sensation, enabling wearers to think and behave like a person without an amputation. The system's bi-directional feedback and control allowed study participants to perform tasks with similar accuracy as non-disabled people.
Researchers at Linköping University have identified a new mechanism by which substances can open specific ion channels and regulate nerve impulses. The study reveals a large group of substances that influence the coupling between ion channel parts, opening potassium channels in a specific manner.
A US researcher has received a National Multiple Sclerosis Society grant to identify compound analogues that can repair damaged axons in multiple sclerosis. The project aims to find a new treatment avenue that speeds up nerve impulses and promotes myelin repair.
Researchers developed a new generation of microelectrode-array chips that can record electrical activity from up to 20,000 nerve cells simultaneously. The new chip enables comprehensive measurements of more than 1,000 cells at once, suitable for testing the effects of drugs and reducing animal experiments.
Researchers have discovered two potassium channels, TREK-1 and TRAAK, at the Nodes of Ranvier that enable rapid sensory and motor reactions in mammals. The channels allow for high-frequency nerve impulses with speeds up to 200 meters per second, essential for survival in a predator-prey world.
Scientists developed a neural network device using nanomaterials, generating spontaneous spikes similar to nerve impulses of neurons. The researchers replicated brain function by utilizing molecular junctions and negative differential resistance.
Scientists have discovered a new role for voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) in neurons, which play a critical role in cellular 'garbage disposal' processes. VGCCs are found not only on the synaptic membrane but also in lysosomes, where they facilitate lysosomal fusion and autophagy.
Researchers at the Niels Bohr Institute found that nerve impulses can collide and continue unaffected, similar to how sound waves work. This supports the theory that nerves function as sound pulses, with the electrical signal being caused by a mechanical force rather than an electric current.
Researchers have created an imaging technology that measures chemical and biological actions in real-time, allowing for improved biosensors to study life processes. This new approach uses short pulse lasers and bioluminescent proteins to create customized sensors for better imaging of living systems.
Researchers identified a key molecule facilitating transport of protein from neuron cell body to axon, enabling electrical impulses. This discovery could help explain neurological disorders linked to malfunctioning or degenerated axons.
A new study in The Journal of General Physiology has shed light on the biophysical processes underlying regulation of circadian rhythms. Researchers found that decreased BK channel activity, particularly a specific variant containing SRKR, contributes to reduced SCN neuron excitability during the day.
A recent study in the Journal of General Physiology reveals that Kv potassium channels are not regulated by physiological changes to PIP2. In contrast to inward rectifier channels, various members of the Kv channel family were unaffected by PIP2 depletion, suggesting a previously unknown mechanism for their regulation.
A new study found that women's knees are more susceptible to injury due to differences in motion and nervous system processing. Women tend to have knee motions that make them more prone to ACL injuries, whereas men's knees process nerve impulses similar to explosive muscle usage.
Neurons can modulate nerve impulses by releasing two neurotransmitters that target the same receptor, accelerating inhibition and enhancing temporal resolution of inhibition. This finding may represent a new way the brain precisely controls nerve impulses in its circuitry.
The study reveals that ion channels collaborate through a third protein called ankyrin-G to control electrical signals in the brain. This mechanism is present in all vertebrates but lacking in invertebrates, suggesting its importance for higher brain abilities.
A recent Penn study found that astrocytes, a type of star-shaped glial cell, play a direct role in regulating communication between neurons. The study suggests that astrocytes modulate the level of adenosine, a signaling molecule involved in controlling wake-to-sleep transitions and epileptic seizures.
Researchers found that a muscle protein called dystroglycan plays a crucial role in forming normal myelin sheaths, which allow nerves to transmit signals efficiently. The study suggests that disruption of this protein may contribute to various neuropathic disorders.
Researchers develop technique to visualize individual vesicles after release, discovering three modes of recycling: kiss-and-run, compensatory and stranded. The study reveals the rate of synaptic vesicle recycling determines information transmission in nerve cells.