Research on nerve cells and the circuits they form. Covers neural mapping, brain development, the striatum, and single-neuron recording.
Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) form tight anatomical associations with sensory, autonomic, and enteric nerve fibers, receiving neural regulation through activating and inhibitory pathways. ILC2s also secrete cytokines that can act back on neurons, forming positive feedback loops that modulate allergic and anti-infective immunity.
Researchers analyzed brain activity in mice to find that neural scaling laws allow information to grow beyond a ceiling imposed by shared noise. The study, published in Science Advances, suggests that brains can process more information than previously thought.
Researchers have discovered the molecular mechanism of synaptic facilitation, a process that strengthens synaptic transmission and is thought to be the basis for instantaneous memory. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, reveals that a calcium binding protein called Synaptotagmin 7 plays a crucia...
Researchers developed a gene-delivery system that converts reactive astrocytes into functional neurons, improving motor recovery in mice and rats. The system, TRANsCre-DIONE, selectively targets scar-forming cells and reprograms them into neurons, which generate nerve impulses and receive signals from other neurons.
Researchers found that sensory neurons retain a memory of allergens that may explain why allergies develop over time. This memory primes neurons to respond more strongly to later exposures, even after the original allergen is gone.
Researchers found that m6A, a small chemical modification on RNA, acts as a molecular delivery tag to transport specific RNAs to distant regions of neurons. The study provides a basis for investigating RNA delivery errors in brain disorders and may inform the development of new therapeutic strategies.
Researchers have discovered a rare population of neurons in the cortex that can synchronize activity across large areas of the brain and promote sleep. These Sst-Chodl neurons were found to be active during the transition to sleep and could even help drive the process, suggesting that the cortex is not simply passive during sleep.
A new brain atlas reveals that neurons build their identity in the first hours of life, rather than inheriting it from their parent cells. The atlas, which mapped nearly 250,000 fly brain cells, shows that neuronal identity is established through a flexible, modular system involving different DNA switches and regulatory proteins.
The brain convenes ensembles of neurons to distinctly represent and sort options during decision-making, ensuring clarity and preventing interference. After making a decision, new ensembles provide new representations for chosen and unchosen options.
Researchers have mapped the complete neural wiring behind taste in an animal, tracing taste signals from sensory neurons to motor neurons that drive feeding. The study reveals neural pathways that could explain how taste triggers anticipatory insulin release before a single calorie is absorbed.
Two UCLA studies published in Cell and Science uncover the role of metabolism and physical signals in guiding radial glia to produce specific cell types in the developing human cortex. Metabolic research found that the pentose phosphate pathway influences cell fate, while thalamic projections make direct physical contact with radial gl...
A new atlas of the brain’s striatum has identified 31 subgroups of neurons, including those involved in addiction, depression, and schizophrenia. The atlas may help scientists develop new drugs to combat these conditions, particularly by targeting specific cell populations affected by Huntington’s disease.
Researchers have developed a genetic toolkit to isolate individual neuron types in a fruit fly brain, revealing distinct neuronal subgroups that produce different effects, including suppressing aggression. The study identifies a universal control of aggression across sexes and highlights the complex roles of neurons within the same neu...
A study finds that dementia with Lewy bodies preferentially affects certain brain regions, including those with genes linked to mitochondrial function and synapses. These regions show distinctive patterns of serotonin, dopamine, and GABA receptors, suggesting a potential target for new treatments.
Research identifies aberrant ERBB4 expression in excitatory neurons as an early driver of Alzheimer's disease pathologies, including neuronal hyperactivity, synapse loss, and cognitive decline. Manipulating ERBB4 expression in mouse models reveals its role in driving disease features, including reactive gliosis and amyloid buildup.
A new theory suggests that the brain's ability to generate quick, nimble volitional thought arises from analog computations carried out by electrical waves. The brain's neural networks coordinate with analog computations to process information efficiently and locally, a feature of the brain's own physics.
Salk Institute researchers found microglia's novel way to contribute to ALS progression and death, using TAM receptors to find and kill motor neurons in spinal cords of mice with ALS. The study suggests a new target for therapy innovation, but notes the complexity of variables involved.
Researchers discovered HSV-1 rapidly rewires cellular metabolism, boosting energy production in infected neurons, but also leading to signs of stress, impaired mitochondrial function, and oxidative stress. The study suggests lactate may help neurons adapt to viral infection, but this adaptation may come at a cost.
Researchers suggest that biological memory is connected to emotion and thought, and that AI may lack the biological infrastructure to replicate human-like consciousness. The study proposes a biochemical process connecting brain cells and chemistry to memory, potentially offering a new route to understanding mental processes.
Neuroscientists have identified flexible modules in the prefrontal cortex that can be reused to perform various tasks. The discovery supports the theory of compositionality, where cognitive building blocks can be flexibly combined to generate new behaviors.
Researchers at MIT have created a new microscope that can image electrical activity in neurons distributed across the brain, revealing patterns of neural activity from milliseconds. The technique enabled observation of single voltage spikes and rapid bursts of spikes, shedding light on how the brain is activated following a stimulus.
High-frequency brain waves called ripples facilitate long-range neural communication during working memory tasks, suggesting a mechanism for integrating information. The study's findings may also help differentiate healthy cognitive signals from abnormal activity associated with neurological diseases like Alzheimer's or ADHD.
A recent study by Nagoya University researchers found that orexin neurons play a crucial role in regulating motivated behavior. Using novel rat models, they discovered that activity in orexin neurons increases with effort, helping drive motivated behavior.
A new study reveals that the brain plays a crucial role in protecting fertility during heat stress by sending signals to reproductive cells. Researchers discovered an unexpected communication system between the brain and germline cells, showing how animals adjust reproduction when conditions become unfavorable.
Researchers have identified a new type of brain plaque, called mitochondrial plaques, that may emerge at the earliest stages of Alzheimer's disease. These plaques contain high levels of amyloid precursor protein and can directly affect neurons, making them a potential target for new treatments.
Human microglia mature slowly compared to other animals, influencing cognitive abilities and enabling powerful brain functions. The discovery sheds light on what made the human brain unique during evolution.
Michigan State University researchers have created a new research tool to investigate the regenerative biology of zebrafish gut nerves. The tool allows for controlled removal and regeneration of neurons, revealing how neural networks are restored in about nine days. This could lead to better understanding of nerve repair in humans.
A new study published in Nature Communications finds that a protein called saxiphilin can neutralize the potent neurotoxin saxitoxin, preventing and even reversing paralytic shellfish poisoning. The discovery could have important public health implications as saxitoxin accumulates in shellfish and causes poisoning when consumed.
A scoping review suggests astrocytic dysfunction may precede neuronal degeneration in CTE. Astrocytes' dysregulation contributes to the development of CTE's characteristic features through mechanisms including astrogliosis, disrupted waste clearance pathways, and chronic neuroinflammation.
Researchers at Columbia's Zuckerman Institute found that specialist neurons exist but are the exception, not the rule. Most neurons can display a huge diversity of responses and help the brain solve complex tasks.
Researchers at Texas A&M University have found a way to intervene early in traumatic brain injuries using a natural, gut-derived chemical that prevents post-traumatic epilepsy from taking root. The treatment reduced brain inflammation, improved memory and mood, protected brain cells, made seizures both rarer and harder to trigger.
Researchers found that aged mice brains show increased micronuclei, which microglia internalize, leading to changes in morphology and gene expression. This process may contribute to age-associated inflammation and vascular dysfunction.
Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital discovered that C1 neurons in mice modulate fear and anxiety, with prolonged activation leading to heightened anxiety. Inhibition of these neurons reduced anxiety-like behaviors, suggesting they may be a valuable therapeutic target for anxiety disorders.
Researchers discovered that damaged myelin generates abnormal rhythms in the sleeping brain, linked to disruptions in brain circuit stability. This finding may help design non-invasive approaches to repair myelin during sleep, improving sleep quality in patients with MS and Alzheimer's disease.
A new study finds that human cortical neurons have remarkable computational capabilities, surpassing those of other mammals. The researchers developed a new method to measure the complexity of individual neurons, revealing their sophisticated computing power.
Researchers discovered astrocytes actively preserve long-term memories by regulating Ank2 and BDNF signaling. This finding expands the understanding of how memories are stored in the brain.
Researchers found that local electric fields exert influence on neurons via ephaptic coupling, which helps explain variations in brain activity even within the same task. The study suggests that manipulating these electric fields could be a potential therapeutic approach for improving brain function in disease.
Researchers discovered that a brain protein called Arc helps spread toxic Tau from sick brain cells to healthy ones in mice. This finding suggests that targeting the spread of Tau could be a powerful tool to stop Alzheimer's disease progression. The study also highlights the potential protective role of Arc in early stages of the disease.
Researchers study blind Mexican cavefish to understand how evolution rewires the brain and shapes behavior. They found that cavefish become more active in light, a response believed to help them avoid predators.
Researchers discovered that bilingual brains store concepts in a mental map spanning both languages, allowing for smooth language switching while keeping them distinct. The brain organizes individual words within each language and connects equivalent meanings across languages using a semantic map.
Researchers at Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine have discovered that bilingual brains preserve a shared overall geometric organization despite tuning themselves differently for each language. This 'shared semantic geometry' allows individuals to effortlessly translate thoughts between languages without confusion.
Researchers at Kyoto University found that neurons sustain DNA breaks during cortex formation, but a quick repair mechanism prevents harm. The study reveals that this damage is a normal part of brain development and may contribute to individuality and neurodevelopmental diseases.
A team of researchers from Hiroshima University has identified a unique molecule, GPR3, that rapidly responds to upstream signals and induces downstream signaling in neurons. This discovery sheds light on the early stages of neuronal development and its dysregulation in neurological disorders.
Researchers have published the first complete connectome of a fruit fly brain and 'spinal cord', allowing for the study of how neural circuits control complex behaviors. The open-source resource is poised to propel neuroscience research by providing insights into basic principles of nervous system interactions.
Researchers have discovered a previously unrecognized class of hairs in mice and a specialized population of touch-sensitive neurons that connect to them. The team found that these neurons play a crucial role in transmitting mechanical itch sensations, which are characteristic of chronic skin inflammation patients. Further studies sugg...
Researchers at the University of Michigan have discovered a new way to understand neurons and their connectivity by studying fruit flies. This breakthrough simplifies future studies on neurobiology and decision-making in mammals, including humans.
A new framework, criticome, integrates experience until age 25, reframing autism, schizophrenia, depression, and trauma as developmental disorders. The study suggests that screen-saturated childhoods may produce adult dysfunction, highlighting the importance of early experience in brain development.
Scientists have identified dopamine as a key player in mediating stress-induced courtship suppression in male Drosophila fruit flies. The duration of stress exposure significantly influenced the persistence of suppressed courtship behavior, highlighting the importance of dopamine signaling in this process.
Researchers suggest targeting upstream metabolic nodes to regulate mTORC1 signaling and autophagy defects in neurodegenerative diseases. Acetyl-CoA production modulation and p300 acetylation activity regulation may also hold therapeutic promise.
Researchers at NIH have discovered key intracellular signaling processes involved in the weight-loss effects of semaglutide, a GLP-1 drug. The findings may help extend treatment duration and reduce plateaus experienced by patients.
Researchers studied how hibernation affects the visual brain of squirrels, finding that certain neurons undergo quick structural changes during deep sleep and arousal stages. These changes reverse within hours after waking and have no lasting effects on neuron structure six months after hibernation.
A recent study by Dr. Walaa Oweis and Prof. Eran Meshorer found that protein clumps in the brain may actually be protecting neurons from stress, acting as a vital quarantine system.
A new study reveals that ALS unfolds through a domino-like sequence of events starting with an early breakdown in motor neurons, followed by a damaging inflammatory response. The findings suggest that targeting these immune signatures could slow down disease progression.
Researchers at MIT's Picower Institute have identified key properties that influence how neurons respond to visual stimuli, including distance from the soma and local clustering. These findings provide insight into how brain circuits process information and may shed light on neural disorders.
Researchers develop machine learning analysis method SPERRFY that combines datasets on brain region connections and gene activity. The study finds a 'GPS' system of genes that predict which brain regions are connected, supporting the chemoaffinity theory and offering new avenues for research into brain development and disease.
A research team at the University of Zurich has developed a new gene editing approach that correctly treats the genetic mutation causing hereditary epilepsy in mice. The therapy improves communication between nerve cells, reduces febrile seizures, and increases survival rates.
A new technology called LinCx allows scientists to create new electrical connections between carefully chosen neurons, enabling selective changes in brain circuit function. This approach enables bypassing broken brain connections and may be used to treat neurological disorders.
A novel antibody, NG101, accelerates the regeneration of damaged spinal cord tissue by neutralizing a protein that blocks nerve fiber growth. This therapy enables new nerve fibers to form functional connections, allowing patients to become more independent and potentially recover arm and hand function.
Researchers discovered that genes linked to neuronal communication are also altered in immune cells of patients with depression, reinforcing the systemic nature of the disease. This finding paves the way for developing blood tests to identify and diagnose depression, as well as new treatment approaches targeting inflammation.
University of Missouri researchers develop organic transistors that process information like biological neural networks, boosting brain-like computing and potentially leading to more energy-efficient artificial intelligence. The approach could lead to significant improvements in tasks such as pattern recognition and decision-making.