Research on nerve cells and the circuits they form. Covers neural mapping, brain development, the striatum, and single-neuron recording.
A new approach to neuromorphic computing has been demonstrated using micrometer-sized wafers, enabling fast and energy-efficient pattern recognition. The HZDR team's component exploits spin waves to process information without moving electrons, promising applications in AI-powered smartphones and traffic optimization.
Researchers applied the Perturb-Seq method to study dozens of genes associated with autism spectrum disorder, identifying how specific cell types in the developing mouse brain are impacted by mutations. The study found that both neurons and glia are directly affected by different sets of risk genes.
A new study by MIT neuroscientists demonstrates that neurons in the anterior cingulate cortex project connections into an evolutionarily older region called the superior colliculus, overriding its basic commands for reflexive movement. The research shows how inhibitory control from the ACC modulates the SC's response to facilitate exec...
A study published in Neuron found that surprise during sports viewing leads to changes in brain patterns, particularly in the prefrontal cortex and pupil dilations. The researchers also discovered a link between dopamine-rich regions and increased activity when subjects' preferred teams scored.
Researchers at Kyushu University have discovered a unique population of spinal cord astrocytes that produce pain hypersensitivity. Stimulation of noradrenergic neurons activates these astrocytes, leading to enhanced pain transmission. The findings suggest that suppressing astrocyte signaling may enhance the effect of chronic pain drugs.
A new imaging technology allows researchers to see multiple intracellular signals simultaneously, revealing their relationships and interactions. This breakthrough could illuminate complex processes like learning and memory, as well as diseases such as Alzheimer's and cancer.
Researchers have identified a population of brain cells in the amygdala linked to physiological arousal responses, which can drive symptoms of anxiety disorders. These findings suggest that targeting these neurons may lead to new treatments for psychiatric illnesses.
Researchers have identified the precise timing and molecular signals involved in neural crest cell formation, shedding light on human neural crest-related pathologies. The study provides a high-resolution temporal map of gene expression and epigenetic changes during neural crest development.
A molecule called Ldlrad3 has been identified as a key player in the virus's ability to infect cells. By creating a decoy version of this protein, scientists have found that it can prevent the virus from causing deadly brain infections in mice.
By expressing neuron-enriched mitochondrial proteins at an early stage, researchers achieved a four times higher conversion rate and increased the speed of reprogramming. This breakthrough may lead to developing reliable regenerative medicine therapies for brain diseases and injuries.
Researchers have developed a new technique for isolating parvalbumin-expressing neurons, which are linked to Parkinson's disease symptoms. The method uses Cre-specific nuclear anchored independent labeling and has been shown to detect changes in oxygen-sensing genes in diseased neurons.
Researchers have developed a novel neuroregenerative gene therapy that converts glial cells back into functional neurons, reversing glial scar tissue. This treatment also promotes brain recovery in mouse models of ischemic stroke and Huntington's disease, offering a promising solution to the glial scar problem.
Research finds that chronic alcohol exposure compromises brain immune cells, fueling anxiety and excessive drinking in mice. Boosting IL-10 signaling reverses aberrant effects, reducing anxiety-like behaviors and motivation to drink. This study provides a new framework for therapeutic intervention, targeting anti-inflammatory mechanisms.
Researchers identified mechanisms in Alzheimer's disease that cause neurons to de-differentiate and lose synaptic connections, resulting in cognitive decline. The study found changes in chromatin structure trigger these effects.
A new study from Stony Brook University found that the brain's 'taste map' is not composed of clusters of specialized neurons, but rather a network of overlapping and spatially distributed populations. This challenges the long-held theory of taste coding, which proposed a topographic map in the gustatory cortex for specific tastes.
A study demonstrates that it's possible to de-identify raw data in functional genomics studies to ensure patient privacy, but also shows how this can be breached through simple means like DNA from a discarded coffee cup
Researchers discover compounds that activate GABA receptors can reduce nicotine intake in stressed rats, potentially alleviating relapse. The findings suggest novel PAMs could help prevent stress-induced smoking relapse with fewer side effects.
Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham have identified a novel population of neurons, called saccade-vergence burst neurons (SVBNs), that control disjunctive saccades in 3D space. These findings could lead to new treatments for strabismus, a condition where eyes don't properly align.
Researchers from MIPT and Harvard have developed an algorithm to automate the process of growing retinal cells in vitro, reducing processing time from two hours to 34 minutes. The approach enables high-throughput tissue production for drug tests and cell transplantation experiments.
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München researchers have developed light-gated compounds that allow precise control of cytoskeleton dynamics in neurons. These compounds can optically pattern cell division and may elucidate how Taxol acts, providing a new approach to understanding cellular cargo trafficking and regulation of mitosis.
Researchers study brain mechanisms in mice using a custom-made puzzle task to disentangle cognitive schemes. They discover that the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) creates a neural map representing various aspects of behavior, including current location and predicted consequences of actions.
Researchers have discovered that gut-educated antibody-producing cells inhabit and defend regions surrounding the central nervous system, including the dura mater. The study shows that these immune cells play a crucial role in protecting the brain against meningitis and other infections.
Researchers discovered that the anterior cingulate cortex is involved in using mental models to simulate the future and make decisions. The brain structure encodes multiple aspects of decision-making, including the likelihood of a specific outcome.
Researchers discovered a specific brain region monitors food preferences as they change across thirsty and quenched states. By artificially manipulating neurons in the ventral pallidum, researchers were able to shift food choice preferences from a desired treat to a plain staple.
New York University researchers have created a developmental atlas of gene expression in neurons using gene sequencing and machine learning. The study reveals new types of neurons, including a previously unknown type present only before flies hatch, and highlights the highest levels of molecular diversity during development.
A recent study by researchers at WashU Medicine has discovered that the activity of specific brain neurons encodes the value of options and determines final decisions. The findings have significant implications for understanding decision-making in mental health conditions such as addiction, depression, and schizophrenia.
Octopuses' arms may have a mind of their own due to their unique nervous system, with over two-thirds of neurons located in the arms. Researchers found that octopuses can learn to associate arm movements with rewards, suggesting some sense of self-movement from the arms.
A new study by MIT neuroscientists shows that the activity of norepinephrine-producing neurons in a single brain region, the locus coeruleus, controls both focus to ignore distractions and discipline to curb impulses. Stimulating LC activity improved attentional control tasks, while inhibiting it had the opposite effect.
Researchers at the University of Tsukuba found that hydrogen sulfide is essential for maintaining normal breathing patterns in mammals. The production of hydrogen sulfide allows brain regions responsible for controlling breathing to function normally.
Researchers have characterized a new population of T cells called ThGM cells that produce GM-CSF, contributing to autoimmune response in MS. The study found that ThGM cells induce inflammation in the brain and spinal cord, suggesting their role in autoimmunity.
Researchers developed an optical neuron system using quantum cascade lasers, operating 10,000× faster than biological neurons. The system demonstrates behaviors like thresholding and spiking, with fine-tuning of modulation and frequency allowing control of time intervals between spikes.
A study found that herpes simplex virus type 1 infection can cause impaired neuronal differentiation and abnormal brain structure in the human fetus, contributing to long-term neurological problems. The research also identified HSV-1-infected microglia promoting inflammation and suggesting new therapeutic avenues for targeting viral re...
A new study reveals that brain cell dysfunction in low oxygen is caused by the body's protective response system, which ultimately impairs brain cell function. Researchers have identified a class of drugs that can overcome this damage and restore brain-stem cell function.
Researchers discovered that SARS-CoV-2's spike protein recognizes and binds to neuropilin-1, facilitating cell entry. Inhibiting this interaction reduces viral infectivity. Autopsies revealed infected olfactory epithelial cells express high levels of neuropilin-1, suggesting its role in COVID-19
Researchers found that neuropilin-1 promotes infection in the presence of ACE2, enabling virus to reach the nervous system. Blocking neuropilin-1 may be a viable therapeutic approach for COVID-19 treatment.
A team of international researchers identified the second key used by SARS-CoV-2 to enter human cells as Neuropilin-1. This discovery reveals a new antiviral strategy to block infection and may lead to future therapeutic approaches. The study provides insights into the virus's ability to spread rapidly and evade the immune system.
Researchers at Jinan University successfully convert astrocytes into neurons using transgenic reporter mice and AAV viral system, providing unambiguous evidence of direct glia-to-neuron conversion. The findings dispel controversies in the field and offer a promising technology for treating neurological disorders.
Researchers used a well-known optical illusion to isolate key clusters of neurons in zebrafish, finding only a dozen or so neurons required for motion perception. The study aims to understand how these neurons are wired within the neural circuit and their connections with visual input.
Researchers aim to understand how electrical stimulation affects glia and vasculature in the brain, with potential implications for treating neurological diseases. They'll use two-photon microscopy and optogenetics to investigate inner workings of the brain.
Researchers at the University of South Florida Health found that SSH1 disrupts p62's ability to clear damaged tau proteins and mitochondria, leading to accumulation of toxic cellular waste. This defect may help develop SSH1 inhibitors to treat neurodegenerative diseases.
Researchers have discovered that female mosquitoes use four distinct types of neurons to detect the unique flavor of human blood, which may lead to new methods for preventing mosquito-borne illnesses. By studying these taste neurons, scientists hope to develop a drug or treatment that could deter mosquitoes from biting humans.
A team of neuroscientists has identified processes the brain uses to distinguish real and present dangers from those linked to past experiences in mice. The findings have significant implications for our understanding of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), where patients struggle to distinguish between safety and threat cues.
Researchers found that genetic pathways allowing fish to regrow neurons remain present in mammals, but are turned off, blocking regeneration and healing. The study may advance genetic therapies for blindness and other neurodegenerative diseases.
A study in STEM CELLS Translational Medicine suggests that amniotic fluid stem cell-derived secretome can restore neuronal plasticity and improve cognition after an ischemic stroke. The findings offer a potential new avenue of treatment for ischemic stroke, which affects 87% of all strokes.
A team of researchers has identified networks of genes that regulate neuron regeneration in certain animals, such as zebrafish. This discovery may lead to the development of new treatments for neurodegenerative disorders, including blindness and Parkinson's disease.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a new cell perturbation system that can deliver DNA, RNA, and proteins into cells with high efficiency and low toxicity. The Nanofountain Probe Electroporation system has the potential to revolutionize medical treatments by enabling quicker and more customized treatment plans.
Researchers at Gladstone Institutes are studying how cells regulate their energy levels and exploring ways to target energy regulation processes to treat diseases such as neurodegeneration and heart failure.
Researchers find that cell adhesion proteins and a gradient of signaling molecule Sonic Hedgehog work together to create precise sorting of cells into domains. By combining experiments from biophysics, genetics, and developmental biology, the team successfully solves the puzzle of how patterns are created in developing organisms.
A new study reveals that microglia, immune cells in the brain, regulate behavioral responses by sensing neuronal activation and providing negative feedback. This novel mechanism of neuromodulation has implications for treating neurodegenerative and inflammatory diseases.
Breast and lung cancer cells use the Slit2 protein, normally produced by neurons, to signal their migration. This intricate mechanism enables them to escape primary tumors and spread to other organs. The findings could lead to novel diagnostics and treatments for metastasis.
Researchers have identified the cellular process by which Cisplatin chemotherapy causes neuronal damage, revealing that it induces senescence of peripheral neurons through overexpression of the p21 protein. This discovery provides new targets for neuroprotective treatments to alleviate or avoid the adverse effects of Cisplatin.
The desert locust's two internal compasses rely on the sun's position and sky polarization patterns. The protocerebral bridge in the central complex encodes 360 degrees of space, enabling navigation based on combined cues from the sky.
Researchers used deep learning to identify neural degeneration patterns in C. elegans, detecting physical symptoms more quickly than humans and distinguishing between causes of degeneration.
Researchers found that star-shaped brain cells, astrocytes, change dynamically across sleep-wake cycles and play a role in regulating sleep need. Astrocyte calcium activity increased during rest phases when sleep need is greatest, suggesting an essential role in sleep regulation.
Scientists have created a new nanodevice that acts like a brain cell and can be joined to form networks that solve problems in a brain-like manner. These systems can identify possible mutations in a virus, relevant for ensuring vaccine efficacy.
Research reveals cannabinoids reduce astrocyte glucose metabolism, impairing neuronal function and social interaction behaviors. The study identifies CB1 receptors as key players in this process.
Researchers at UCLA discovered that the brain measures seconds by changing patterns of neural activity, with two distinct 'clocks' in different regions. The study found that mice could anticipate rewards based on scents associated with specific time intervals.
Researchers have identified how brain cells work together to join up memories of separate experiences, allowing us to make educated guesses. The process happens in a region of the brain called the hippocampus and is also linked to creativity.
A new study in mice suggests that a molecular transporter, GLT-1, may play a crucial role in determining susceptibility to migraines. The researchers found that mice lacking the GLT-1 transporter were more prone to cortical spreading depression, a condition related to migraines, and had increased levels of glutamate outside of neurons.
Scientists have discovered the first X-ray crystallography structure of LSD bound to its target in the brain, revealing how it induces hallucinogenic effects. The study also uncovers images of a prototypical hallucinogen coupled with the entire serotonin receptor complex.