Articles tagged with Neural Mechanisms
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Researchers have found a new brain mechanism that detects prediction errors between expected and actual sensory inputs, boosting responses to unexpected information. This discovery could offer insights into the neural circuits underlying autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs).
A University of Bonn study reveals that strength training activates the BAG3 system, essential for eliminating damaged cell components. This finding holds promise for new therapies for heart failure, nerve diseases, and even benefits for manned space missions.
Researchers find that unabsorbed dietary polyphenols can reduce the risk of type II diabetes by regulating blood glucose levels and appetite through secretion of gastrointestinal hormones. Polyphenol-mediated binding and activation of T2R promotes the release of incretins, which regulate insulin secretion and food intake.
A Leipzig study found that chronic kidney disease (CKD) activates microglial cells, disrupting potassium balance in nerve cells and leading to cognitive impairment. Researchers identified a mechanism involving the blood-brain barrier and potential therapeutic targets.
Researchers have discovered a new type of brain cell in the medial entorhinal cortex that accurately predicts future locations as an animal travels. This discovery helps explain how planned spatial navigation is possible and has important implications for understanding mechanisms of spatial navigation and episodic memory formation.
Research shows that parvalbumin-expressing neurons in the cerebral cortex activate when sleepiness increases, leading to rebound sleep. The activation of CaMKII protein causes rebound sleep by activating these neurons. This study sheds light on the molecular and neural mechanisms of sleep homeostasis.
Researchers have discovered a non-memory-based mechanism for animals to cache and retrieve food, challenging long-held beliefs about animal cognition. The proposed mechanism uses neural networks similar to hash functions, allowing for efficient storage and retrieval of cache locations.
Researchers have uncovered new insights into how the brain regulates imitative behavior, a phenomenon that facilitates interaction and social cohesion. The study used advanced brain stimulation technique to pinpoint the causal role of different circuits in facilitating or inhibiting automatic imitation.
Researchers have identified nearly 300 common and over 20 rare genetic variants as significant risk factors for schizophrenia. The study emphasizes the role of multiple genes rather than single-gene causation, revealing complexity in the mechanisms underlying the disorder.
Researchers propose a novel hypothesis that exercise reduces depressive symptoms by boosting dopamine function and motivation. Studies found inflammation and disrupted dopamine transmission are linked to depression, while exercise reduces inflammation and enhances motivation.
A recent study at the University of Missouri discovered that oxytocin and corticotropin-releasing hormone cause the brainstem to become overactive, leading to hypertension. This finding can help develop targeted drugs to reduce high blood pressure in sleep apnea patients.
Researchers discovered that propofol, a commonly used anesthesia drug, induces unconsciousness by causing the brain to become increasingly unstable. This instability leads to chaotic brain activity, resulting in loss of consciousness. The study's findings could help develop better tools for monitoring patients during general anesthesia.
Researchers have developed a multi-component hydrogel scaffold to mimic the amyloid-beta containing microenvironment associated with AD. The study found elevated levels of neuroinflammation and apoptosis markers in healthy neuronal progenitor cells cultured within this environment.
Researchers discuss the critical role of the retinal pigmented epithelium in human vision and its susceptibility to aging. The study highlights the importance of understanding molecular and cellular mechanisms driving age-related pathological changes in vision decline.
A study published in Nature Communications has identified a neurological mechanism underlying anorexia nervosa and found a possible cure using donepezil, a medication increasing acetylcholine levels. Ongoing studies show positive results for patients with severe anorexia nervosa treated with low doses of donepezil.
A recent study published in iScience found that newborn chicks are predisposed to learn quicker based on the colour of their mother. The research team discovered a colour-dependent bias in learning speed, with chicks exposed to a deep blue mother learning faster than those raised by mothers with other colours.
Researchers have identified a cellular mechanism that detects when the brain needs an extra energy boost to support its activity. This discovery could lead to new therapies for maintaining brain health and longevity by targeting impaired brain energy metabolism, a process accelerated in ageing and neurodegenerative diseases.
A new study found that claustrum neurons regulate engagement with sensory information during tasks and sleep. Increased activity in these neurons reduces impulsivity and improves performance.
Research highlights occupational nerve injuries as a predictable mechanism, often caused by compression, stretch, vibration, and repetitive muscle movements. The study aims to equip clinicians with understanding of biomechanical factors that interact with anatomy to damage nerves.
A study published in Gut reveals that specific bacteria in the gut are involved in compulsive eating and obesity, with a beneficial bacterium called Blautia showing protective effects. The research also highlights the role of microRNAs in food addiction and suggests potential new treatments involving beneficial bacteria and dietary sup...
Researchers investigate the effects of space travel on astronauts' eye health, specifically fluid shift and its relation to Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS). They examine potential countermeasures, such as lower body negative pressure, to combat microgravity-induced changes in ocular perfusion pressure.
A ketogenic diet has been shown to improve memory and healthspan in aging mice by activating a critical signaling pathway. The study found that the main ketone body produced during a ketogenic diet, BHB, plays a crucial role in activating this pathway.
Using fMRI, researchers analyzed brain activity while participants experienced sustained pain and pleasure induced by capsaicin and chocolate fluids. The study identified common brain regions activated by both experiences and developed predictive models to capture affective intensity and valence information.
Researchers discover that epigenetic marks, particularly H3K27ac, are crucial for instructing genes to express themselves and generate folds. The Cux2 protein is found to be a master factor that utilizes the epigenetic landscape to regulate gene expression, leading to the formation of folds in the cerebral cortex.
A team of scientists has uncovered how our brains simulate possible future actions using stored memories. The prefrontal cortex and hippocampus work together to enable mental simulations, allowing us to make better decisions. This research provides foundational knowledge on brain circuits enabling decision-making.
A recent study discovered a critical brain signal mediated by dopamine and its 'D2' receptors that plays a crucial role in timing actions. The research team used novel imaging techniques to observe this activity before self-timed presses, finding a gradual increase in brain signals about half a second prior.
Researchers used C. elegans to investigate the underlying mechanisms of embryonal exposure to addictive doses of amphetamine, discovering epigenetic modifications that alter gene and protein expression. This leads to increased susceptibility to amphetamine-induced behaviors in adult animals.
A UCLA Health study has unveiled the link between genetic risk of autism and observed cellular activity in the brain. Researchers analyzed post-mortem brain tissue from 66 individuals, including those with autism spectrum disorder, to identify changes in cortical cell types and transcription factor networks.
Researchers at Nagoya University found that cooperative hunting does not require complex cognitive processes, but rather simple rules and experience. The study used computational models and simulations to demonstrate the effectiveness of cooperation in hunting, with AI agents learning to work together through reinforcement learning.
A new study reveals that neural activity related to sound detection and movement are temporally separated but share commonalities, with neurons adapting their activity based on experience. The findings shed light on the brain's complex processing of sensory information and behavioral choices.
Neurons exhibit 'mixed selectivity,' integrating multiple inputs and computations, ensuring focused cognition. The brain employs mechanisms like oscillations and neuromodulators to recruit neurons and tune them to relevant information.
Researchers have uncovered a novel regulator governing how cells respond to mechanical cues, finding that ETV4 bridges cell density dynamics to stem cell differentiation. This discovery has significant implications for controlling cancer cells through mechanical cues.
A study by IBS researchers has identified the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) as a key region responsible for sensory hypersensitivity associated with autism spectrum disorders. The team discovered that ACC hyperactivity and brain-wide hyperconnectivity contribute to sensory abnormalities in Grin2b-mutant mice.
The study suggests that memory plays a pivotal role in shaping consciousness, contrasting the idea that computer-based Information Theory provides a sufficient framework for understanding neural memory. The researchers propose a novel perspective that memory underpins consciousness, introducing the concept of a "brain cloud" to illustr...
Researchers at UCLA Health discovered a novel, energy-efficient mechanism of working memory that reduces metabolic cost even during sleep. The discovery is published in Nature Communications and may provide an early diagnostic for Alzheimer's disease and related dementia.
Researchers discover a new mechanism of neural plasticity underlying learning and memory processes, highlighting the crucial role of chondroitin sulfates in brain function. The study provides insights into how these molecules contribute to synaptic modifications and spatial memory.
A new study found that brief anger episodes can negatively impact blood vessel function, leading to increased risk of heart disease and stroke. The researchers investigated the effects of anger, sadness, and anxiety on blood vessel function and found that evoking an angered state led to blood vessel dysfunction.
Brain stem cells express genes for both maintaining their identity and differentiating into neurons without conflicts. Researchers found that messenger RNAs of stem cell genes are retained in the nucleus, preventing translation and allowing cells to maintain their status as stem cells.
A University of Massachusetts Amherst study is tracking over 300 infants and preschoolers to assess the importance of napping on brain development. The research aims to identify the bioregulatory mechanisms involved in napping and its impact on memory, with findings expected to inform nap policies for young children.
Researchers at Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence have discovered a brain circuit that inhibits food intake during nausea. The circuit involves special nerve cells in the amygdala, which send appetite-suppressing signals to distant brain regions, resulting in a loss of appetite.
Researchers have developed a network model that replicates the experimental findings of how short-term history effects lead to central tendency bias in working memory. The model shows that neural circuits can give rise to both recency and central tendency biases at the same time through a single mechanism.
A comprehensive atlas of ageing human muscle reveals genetic and cellular processes behind muscle deterioration, including new cell populations that may explain age-related differences. The study also identifies compensatory mechanisms to counteract ageing, offering avenues for future therapies.
Researchers identified a novel mechanism where APP-CTFs disrupt organellar communication, interfering with cellular homeostasis and leading to endolysosomal dysfunction. This finding suggests that preventing APP-CTF accumulation could be crucial for developing new AD treatments.
Emerging from a need to understand organelle interactions, researchers have developed OrthoID, a novel strategy that refines protein identification at organelle contact sites. This method uses mutually orthogonal binding pairs to label and isolate proteins involved in cellular communication.
Researchers at RIKEN Center for Brain Science discovered neural circuitry in the spinal cord that enables brain-independent motor learning and recall. The study found two critical groups of neurons: one necessary for new adaptive learning and another for recalling adaptations once learned.
A team of researchers from the University of Buenos Aires has developed a method to translate the vocal muscle activity of birds during sleep into synthetic songs. This breakthrough uses electromyography data and dynamical systems models to recreate the sounds of dreaming birds, providing a new window into the subconscious mind of avians.
A study published in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity found that normal levels of interferon-β are required for normal memory function, and its absence changes nerve cell components in a sex-dependent fashion. The research also showed that higher or lower than normal levels of interferon-β affect the brain in a sex-dependent manner.
Researchers discovered that neonatal spinal cord ECM significantly enhanced NPC proliferation, migration, and differentiation compared to adult ECM. This study highlights the critical role of early developmental spinal cord ECM in orchestrating spinal cord regeneration processes.
A team of researchers from Tokyo Institute of Technology identified the molecular mechanisms involved in synaptic communication using Drosophila. They found that Side-IV/Beat-IIb immunoglobulin superfamily protein molecules play a crucial role in inducing synapse formation and regulating preferential signaling among neuron pairs.
A study using a xenotransplantation model has revealed that human microglia respond to amyloid-β plaques with a complex immune response, influencing the disease course. The research highlights the importance of considering genetic factors in microglia-targeted therapies for Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers used intracortical recordings to study the neural mechanisms behind exogenous attention, identifying three cortical networks activated in sequence as attention was captured by visual stimuli. The findings suggest a continuum of activity in the cortex, with attention emerging as a bridge between perception and action.
A new study found that a viral infection can cause cognitive impairments by damaging the blood-brain barrier, leading to memory loss and learning difficulties. Researchers developed a gene therapy that stimulated the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway to prevent this damage and improve cognitive function in mice infected with SARS-CoV-2.
Researchers found that our brains analyze submolecular features when we smell, leading to changes in perception over time. This dynamic adaptation affects the way our brains represent smells, making them less consistent than previously thought.
Research reveals that polyphenols interact with bitter taste receptors in the gut, promoting vasorelaxation, regulating blood pressure, and influencing hormone secretion. Bitter and astringent perception of polyphenols also affects HPA axis activation, improving mood and memory function.
Researchers have solved the long-standing question of what triggers the alarm response in fish by identifying two distinct chemical signals: Daniol sulphate and Ostariopterin. These substances convey separate pieces of information that must be detected simultaneously to trigger a flight-or-freeze response.
The study reveals that two neural pathways in the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus participate in dynamic regulation of goal pursuits, with PVT+ neurons encoding execution and termination of actions, respectively. Activity in these neurons mirrors motivation parameters such as vigor and satiety.
Researchers found large individual differences in roundworm neural activity despite conserved neural circuits. Computer simulations including noise accurately model whole-brain activity, shedding light on neuronal connectivity and essential role of noise in brain function.
Researchers at UC San Diego discover that acute stress triggers a switch in neurotransmitters, leading to generalized fear responses. They also find that suppressing GABA production and using antidepressants can prevent this effect.
Researchers found that middle-age obesity is caused by age-related changes in the shape of neurons in the hypothalamus, a region controlling metabolism and appetite. A protein called MC4R detects overnutrition and regulates metabolism to prevent obesity. Dietary restriction may help maintain brain anti-obesity systems as we age.
Researchers at Brown University's Carney Institute for Brain Science discovered how the brain coordinates attention and filtering functions to perform complex tasks. The study found that multiple brain regions work together to adjust focus and filter out distractions, providing insight into human cognitive flexibility.