Articles tagged with Neural Mechanisms
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Scientists successfully transfer a longevity gene from naked mole rats to mice, resulting in improved health and a 4.4% increase in median lifespan. The gene enhances cellular repair and protection, reducing inflammation and cancer risk, paving the way for potential human longevity benefits.
Neuroscientists at Scripps Research have identified a specific cluster of neurons that work as a 'switch' for cold-related food-seeking behavior in mice. The discovery could lead to potential therapeutics for metabolic health and weight loss by targeting this brain circuitry.
Researchers discovered intricate neural connections in Octopus vulgaris, a model organism for studying memory acquisition networks. The findings challenge traditional models of neural network functionality, revealing an evolutionary adaptation that underlies the octopus's unique cognitive prowess.
A KAIST research team has identified excessive astrocyte-mediated synapse removal as the cause of mental diseases induced by childhood abuse trauma. This mechanism is linked to stress hormones and can lead to abnormal neural networks and complex behavioral abnormalities.
Researchers propose GABA-modulating treatments as potential therapeutic targets for depression's cognitive and affective symptoms. The study highlights the importance of GABA-A receptors in regulating balance and signals between neurons, and suggests compounds that promote or inhibit these receptors may alleviate depressive symptoms.
Researchers discovered that stimulating dopamine neurons in mice's midbrain triggers orofacial movements, which are linked to brain-wide neuronal activities. The study identified two distinct orofacial movements: transient actions upon reward expectation and active, sustained movements upon receiving a reward.
Researchers at the University of Virginia Health System discovered that improper calcium signaling in mitochondria accelerates chronic inflammation, leading to age-related conditions. Increasing calcium uptake in macrophages may help prevent harmful inflammation and its effects on the brain.
Researchers discovered lactate's role in helping neural stem cells develop into specialized neurons. Lactate sends signals to cells, modifying and strengthening neuronal functions. The study provides insight into lactate signaling in the nervous system, with potential applications for preventing or controlling cognitive diseases.
Researchers found nightingales can flexibly adjust the pitch of certain song parts over a wide range of frequencies to imitate competitors. This strategy is thought to increase their mating chances during the breeding season. The birds can also adjust their songs in real-time to auditory stimuli, suggesting a robust neural circuitry.
The new Clinical Research Unit will investigate autoantibodies' role in neurological disorders, focusing on diagnosis and treatment. Researchers expect innovative therapies for patients with previously suspected diseases.
Researchers at the University of Virginia Health System have identified a novel mechanism by which hair cells can repair themselves after damage. This breakthrough understanding has the potential to develop new treatments for age-related hearing loss and other conditions.
Researchers discovered that a diet rich in the bacteria Lactobacillus reuteri can maintain associative learning ability in older nematodes. This finding suggests potential ways to use diet to reduce age-related cognitive decline in other animals, including humans.
Scientists at Karolinska Institutet have identified a group of nerve cells involved in creating negative emotional states and chronic stress. The neurons, which are sensitive to oestrogen levels, were mapped using advanced techniques such as Patch-seq, Neuropixels, and optogenetics.
HaoSheng Sun, assistant professor at University of Alabama at Birmingham, has been selected as a Freeman Hrabowski scholar by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. He will receive up to $8.6 million over 10 years to advance his research on neural development and plasticity.
Researchers developed a new spectropolarimetric imaging technique called DIP-SP, which integrates a passive polarization modulator into an imaging spectrometer. This approach enables high-dimensional information capture from incomplete measurements and significantly improves image quality.
A new study in mice reveals that a middle-brain region controls aggression towards young animals, while another region promotes maternal behavior. The findings suggest that the brain mechanism behind infanticide by women may be similar to that in males.
A University of Ottawa team has discovered a vital role for the VGLUT3 transporter protein in modulating the development of Huntington's disease. The study shows that blocking glutamate release through this protein can lead to an amelioration of the disease progression, offering new hope for potential treatment approaches.
The study reveals that spontaneous waves of neurotransmitter glutamate facilitate dendrite pruning, while a unique protection/punishment machinery strengthens certain connections and eliminates others. Proper pruning is critical for neural development, with insufficient or excessive connections linked to neurophysiological disorders.
The study used transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM) to stimulate the prefrontal cortex, a region involved in cognitive function. The results showed that tPBM modulated hemodynamic and metabolic activities in a wavelength- and site-specific manner.
Researchers at the Institute for Basic Science have identified specific neurons in the hippocampus that allow us to recognize individual social counterparts and update their value through interactions. The dorsal CA1 region plays a crucial role in this process, enabling long-term memories of individuals to be formed.
Researchers identified mRNAs and long non-coding RNAs targeted by stress granule proteins, which accumulate AD-associated gene transcripts in these structures. SGs may play a key role in regulating AD development through the impairment of protein neurohomeostasis.
Researchers found that genetic predisposition to lipids, Alzheimer's, and heart disease in the MLXIPL gene locus is shaped by exogenous exposures. Minor alleles of certain variants associated with high triglyceride levels and lower HDL-C levels, which may provide protective effects against Alzheimer's risk.
Luis Cuello, a professor at TTUHSC, has developed a method to express human potassium channels in bacteria, allowing for large-scale biophysical studies. This technology will be used to target several channels relevant to diseases such as epilepsy, arrhythmia, and diabetes.
Researchers found that a specific neuropeptide affects two separate groups of neurons, promoting aggressive behavior in fruit flies. This discovery provides new insights into the complex mechanisms of neuronal communication using neuropeptides.
Researchers discovered that the gene Tiam1 regulates normal synapse development but also drives structural and functional changes leading to neuropathic pain. Eliminating or blocking Tiam1 activity in animal models prevented or reversed chronic pain, suggesting a potential therapeutic strategy.
Researchers uncover a pathophysiological mechanism that initiates and sustains neuropathic pain in mice, identifying Tiam1 as a potential therapeutic target. Targeting spinal Tiam1 with antisense oligonucleotides alleviates neuropathic pain hypersensitivity, offering promise for treating chronic pain.
Researchers at Sainsbury Wellcome Centre found that instinctual exploratory runs enable mice to learn a map of the world efficiently. The study demonstrates how biological brains can learn faster and more efficiently than AI agents by focusing on salient objects.
A repurposed HIV drug has been found to restore the brain's autophagy function, helping prevent build-up of misfolded proteins and slowing disease progression in mouse models of Huntington's disease and dementia. This discovery provides clues to how this process could be slowed or prevented in humans.
Researcher Brian Clark presents findings on the role of the nervous system in age-related muscle weakness, exploring potential therapeutic targets such as exercise and physical therapy. His work identifies neural mechanisms linked to low nerve cell excitability, impaired signal transmission, and reduced motor network integrity.
Researchers discovered nanoscopic tunnels that connect precursor cells in the cerebellum as they mature into neurons. These tunnels enable molecular exchange and physical migration of pre-neuronal cells across layers, shedding light on brain connectivity and development.
A recent study found that humans process social situations similarly, with an extensive neural network processing various social information. The study identified main dimensions of social perception, including antisocial behavior, sexual or affiliative behavior, and communication.
Researchers at UC Davis discovered how oligodendrocyte-lineage cells transfer cell material to neurons in the mouse brain, providing a new mechanism for understanding brain maturation and finding treatments for neurological conditions. This discovery opens new possibilities for treating neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and P...
Researchers developed a new imaging technique that visualizes the interaction between reactive astrocytes and neurons in the brain, revealing a potential breakthrough in Alzheimer's disease diagnosis and treatment. The study found that acetate promotes reactive astrogliosis, leading to dementia, and offers a new target for AD treatment.
Researchers at UCLA Health discovered that astrocytes, traditionally considered the brain's support system, are involved in obsessive-compulsive disorder-related behaviors. The study suggests that targeting both neurons and astrocytes may be effective for OCD treatment.
A UTEP researcher has received a prestigious NSF grant to support his research on the neural mechanisms of decision-making. The award will also fund educational components and undergraduate/graduate courses focused on computational and biological science.
Research using mice models of Alzheimer's disease found that deep brain stimulation activated only a small population of new neurons, restoring cognitive and non-cognitive functions. The study also identified protein pathways involved in improved memory performance and plaque clearance.
Researchers discovered how our brain makes new decisions by applying stored knowledge to novel situations. The study found that individuals use both spatial and temporal relationships learned from past experiences to inform their choices.
A study by Ruhr-University Bochum's Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy found altered brain activity in patients with fibromyalgia, which may contribute to the disorder's characteristic inability to control pain. The research provides new insights into the neural mechanisms underlying chronic pain in fibromyalgia patients.
A recent study found that antidepressant fluoxetine facilitates the erasure of learned fear responses and enhances spatial learning in mice. The TrkB receptor in Parvalbumin interneurons is primarily responsible for this increased plasticity, suggesting a new target for treating psychiatric diseases.
Researchers aim to understand the allure of highly processed foods, which make up 58% of US calories. By studying their processing and added ingredients, they hope to identify underlying variables driving consumption.
A new study links shorter telomeres to multiple changes in the brain associated with dementia, including reduced grey matter volume and a thicker cerebral cortex. Longer telomeres were found to be protective, reducing the risk of dementia but not stroke or Parkinson's disease.
Researchers collected electrophysiological recordings from prefrontal cortical regions in three human subjects with severe treatment-resistant depression. They found lower depression severity correlated with decreased low-frequency neural activity and increased high-frequency activity.
A study published in Neuron reveals the intricate neural mechanisms underlying fragmented feeding behavior in mice. The researchers identified three key populations: ARC AgRP neurons regulating non-feeding behavior, LH GABA neurons mediating feeding initiation, and DR GABA neurons maintaining feeding duration.
Researchers estimate transcription error rates in human cells and identify genetic and epigenetic factors responsible for inaccuracies. Inaccurate transcription produces truncated or altered proteins, leading to disease.
Researchers at Texas A&M University School of Medicine have identified a specific brain circuit that characterizes how fentanyl affects the brain. Suppressing negative emotional states may increase a person's chance of overcoming opioid use disorder.
Kyoto University researchers have created a map comparing circuit structure with neural activity in mammals, revealing a new mechanism behind visual cortex activities. This discovery sheds light on the hidden connections between neurons and could provide directions for constructing power-efficient deep neural networks.
Researchers at DZNE discovered that centrosome controls neuronal migration but not axon growth. The study used novel molecular tools to show that centrosomal activity influences radial migration of projection neurons.
A team at Harvard Medical School identified a novel mechanism of DNA repair that occurs exclusively in neurons, allowing them to maintain their function over time despite intense repetitive work. The NPAS4–NuA4 complex initiates a pathway to repair DNA breaks induced by neuronal activity.
Researchers from HKU School of Biological Sciences reveal the important role of SCT Receptor in regulating drinking behaviour under thirst. The study demonstrates how SCTR participates in SFO to regulate thirst and provides new insights into gut-brain axis regulation.
The American Heart Association is recognizing 10 leading stroke scientists who have made significant contributions to the field of stroke research. Among them, Dr. Cheryl Bushnell will be honored with the Ralph L. Sacco Outstanding Stroke Research Mentor Award for her exceptional mentorship and research in women's issues related to str...
A UCF cancer researcher is studying the molecular causes of Alzheimer's disease by examining a protein deficiency in the brain. His research may lead to new targets for therapy and earlier diagnosis. The study focuses on KLF8, a protein important for brain function that has been recorded as deficient in patients with Alzheimer's.
A study at Nagoya University found that specific neurons in fruit flies process and distinguish between different courtship songs, differing between species. The researchers used calcium imaging to determine how these neurons respond to different courtship songs, finding that the responses varied between species.
A study found that immune checkpoint inhibitors enhance chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain by blocking interaction between macrophages and neurons via PD1-PDL1 synergy. This discovery could lead to the development of therapeutic alternatives to prevent pain while maintaining anti-neoplastic effects.
Dr. Nico Spiller to develop new analysis methods using machine learning to analyze complex brain data related to memory, decision making, and movement. The fellowship aims to provide insights into neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
Researchers found that measles virus mutations in its fusion protein allow it to infect nerve cells, leading to subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. The team's discovery sheds light on the evolutionary mechanisms of viruses like coronaviruses and herpesviruses.
In a breakthrough study, researchers at Münster University revealed that mechanical tearing is the primary mechanism behind neurite pruning in sensory nerve cells of fruit flies. This process, which occurs during development, involves strong body contractions causing stress on fragile neurites, leading to their severance and removal.
Scientists found that chronic stress increases the activity of proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons, leading to behaviors such as anhedonia and depression. Inhibiting POMC neuron activity reduced these behavioral changes. The study suggests that POMC neurons play a key role in increasing susceptibility to stress-related behavioral problems.
Researchers have discovered a unique, fast synapse in the inner ear that processes signals faster than any other in the human body. This breakthrough could lead to improved treatments for vertigo and balance disorders affecting millions of Americans over 40.
Columbia Engineering neuroscientists identified a specific neural mechanism in the human brain that enhances memory for emotional events. High-frequency brain waves in the amygdala and hippocampus are critical to this process, and disruptions can impair memory specifically for emotional stimuli.
A recent study published in Nature Communications has found a significant imbalance in the gut microbiome of individuals with Parkinson's disease. The researchers discovered that over 30% of micro-organisms and bacterial genes tested had altered abundances, indicating a widespread imbalance in the microbiome.