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Scientists 'watch' rats string memories together

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine discovered that the mammalian brain likely reconstructs memories in a way more like jumping across stepping stones than walking across a bridge. The study used electrode implants to track nerve cells firing in rats' brains as they planned their next move, revealing gaps between discrete memories.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalScience·DateJul 15, 2015

Fine tuning in the brain

Researchers developed a computer model to simulate the biological processes of neural network development in the visual cortex. The results show that newborns possess specialized nerve cells but lack systematic connections, which are refined through experience, leading to improved perception.

SourceBernstein Coordination Site (BCOS)·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateJul 1, 2015

Study reveals Internet-style 'local area networks' in cerebral cortex of rats

A massive data compilation of 40 years' worth of research on rat brains reveals local networks of neurons, similar to the Internet, governing various functions such as vision, learning, and bodily concerns. This discovery opens a new avenue for connecting human brain studies with animal models, potentially leading to breakthroughs in n...

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 6, 2015

Having a hard time focusing?

A research team at McGill University has identified a complex of neurons in the lateral prefrontal cortex that interact to filter visual information while ignoring distractions. The discovery has far-reaching implications for understanding diseases such as autism, ADHD, and schizophrenia.

SourceMcGill University·JournalNeuron·DateJan 7, 2015

Neurons listen to glia cells

A team of scientists at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz uncovered a new signal pathway in the brain that plays a crucial role in learning and sensory input processing. Glial cells release a specific protein fragment that influences neuronal cross-talk, leading to changes in neural networks.

SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·JournalPLOS Biology·DateDec 12, 2014

Taming neural excitations

Researchers aimed to control harmful signals in strokes by understanding neural excitation pulses. The study found that non-local couplings can produce various spatio-temporal patterns, including acceleration, deceleration, and suppression of pulses.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateDec 3, 2014

How memory and schizophrenia are connected

A study published in Neuron reveals a connection between genes controlling neuronal excitability and working memory, psychiatric disease, and brain activity. The researchers identified a network of genes that plays a crucial role in human brain function, highlighting the importance of understanding its dysfunction in schizophrenia.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalNeuron·DateFeb 13, 2014

How neurons get wired

Researchers found that embryonic nerve cells use two versions of a signaling molecule to determine which end is the axon and which is the dendrite. This discovery could help improve therapies for spinal cord injuries and neurodegenerative diseases.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 14, 2013

Chips that mimic the brain

Researchers developed a neuromorphic system that can carry out complex sensorimotor tasks in real time, exhibiting cognitive abilities. The system combines artificial neurons into networks that implemented neural processing modules, closely resembling mammalian brain structures.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 22, 2013

Neural interaction in periods of silence

Researchers have developed a novel methodology called NET-fMRI to map widespread neural networks activated by local events. The study reveals that short periods of recurrent ripples in the brain are closely associated with reproducible cortical activations and extensive activity suppression in other brain structures.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature·DateNov 21, 2012