Articles tagged with Neurons
Researchers analyzed 73 ancient genomes and found that the Canaanites descended from a mixture of local Neolithic populations and Iranian/Caucasus-related ancestry. This study sheds light on the cultural and genetic similarity among city-states, and how migration from the northeast may have influenced the region's culture.
A team of researchers has developed a comprehensive 3D map of the rat heart's intrinsic cardiac nervous system, allowing for precise study of its structure and function. This breakthrough could lead to better treatments for severe heart disease and advancements in bioelectronic medicine.
Researchers discover genetic variant ALK in thin individuals that helps resist weight gain and obesity, with implications for developing therapeutics targeting this gene. The study found that deleting the ALK gene results in thinner flies and mice, highlighting its potential role in regulating energy expenditure.
The study successfully captured images of the sodium pump in action, documenting molecular changes necessary for sodium transport. The findings have implications for advancing optogenetics and improving experiments in neurobiology.
A study by University of Tsukuba researchers has identified a key molecule Crz that regulates body size adjustment during the larval stage in Drosophila. The study found that Crz neurons physically contact PTTH-producing neurons, controlling basal ecdysteroid biosynthesis and enabling proper development.
Researchers at Duke University found a single brain area, the CeAga neurons, which can profoundly control pain by turning off dozens of other pain-promotion centers. By activating this center, they can alleviate pain behaviors in mice, suggesting potential future treatments for chronic pain.
A team of researchers has developed an approach to stimulate the visual cortex, allowing blind and sighted people to perceive shapes. By tracing outlines with electrical stimulation, participants were able to correctly identify letters and forms, demonstrating a potential method for regaining vision in blind individuals.
Researchers found activated T cells in brain tissue of MS patients, indicating local inflammation is driving the disease. This discovery supports the idea that white blood cells on the outside of the brain no longer influence the disease in advanced stages.
Scientists have developed a new treatment to reduce swelling after brain and spinal cord injuries, offering hope to 75 million victims worldwide. The breakthrough uses the already-licensed anti-psychotic medicine trifluoperazine to alter aquaporin behaviour in cells, preventing cell swelling and pressure build-up.
Research by Marta Moita and her team found that social animals acquire fear of freezing through auto-conditioning, which requires both pain and immobility. The team discovered a neural map in the brain's fear-learning center and auditory system that underlies this learning mechanism.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a new method to distribute bioactive molecules in three-dimensional space, allowing them to guide the growth of nerve fibers and other biological processes. This innovation has potential benefits for medicine, including improving recovery from neural injuries.
A new study in mice reveals that a specific group of neurons in the brainstem control the direction of walking movements by applying the 'brake' to one side of the body. This discovery has significant implications for understanding motor disorders and could lead to new treatments.
Researchers discovered that older mice made more of the two proteins in nasal cells than younger ones, explaining why older people are more susceptible to COVID-19. The study also found that sustentacular cells could potentially be infected by SARS-CoV-2, providing a route to infect the brain.
Fruit flies' brains learn to ignore prevalent smells and amplify rare ones through a signal filtering process. This understanding may apply to dogs and humans, and could be used to train AI machines.
Scientists discovered a critical protein, Ded1p, that changes its structure in response to heat stress, triggering the production of stress-protective proteins. This mechanism may help organisms adapt to temperature fluctuations and has implications for understanding neurodegenerative diseases.
The claustrum is a key structure in coordinating brain activity across multiple senses and areas. Researchers found that slow-wave brain activity, characteristic of sleep states, is controlled by the claustrum.
A new high-resolution 3D map of the mouse brain has been published, providing a reference atlas for the neuroscience community. The map enables whole-brain studies and improves research by allowing researchers to precisely co-register different types of data, enabling bigger-picture views and comparisons.
A new 3D atlas of the mouse brain provides cellular-level detail, identifying previously unseen structures and nerve fibers. The Allen Mouse Brain Common Coordinate Framework (CCFv3) is an average of serial images from 1,675 mice, allowing for comparison and integration of diverse data types.
Researchers developed an optical brain-to-brain interface that supports fast and accurate information transmission for locomotion control. The interface uses fiber photometry to record population Ca2+ signals from identified neurons, achieving a three-fold increase in information transfer rates compared to previous BtBIs.
Researchers at TU Wien and Stanford University have created tiny neuronal networks by printing 3D cages with microscale openings using two-photon polymerization and acoustic bioprinting. This allows for the growth of multicellular nerve tissue and the creation of connections between neurons, enabling targeted study of neural networks.
A group of neurons in the ventrolateral subdivision of the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus sense fluctuations in blood sugar levels and respond by rapidly decreasing or increasing their firing activities. This response can trigger changes in behavior to increase glucose levels, forming a feedback system that keeps blood glucose balance.
Researchers are teaming up to understand why critical nerve cells continue to die after spinal cord injuries and aim to develop more effective treatments by enhancing or limiting the immune response. They'll use a new probe developed by one scientist to track dead cells as they're swallowed up by immune cells.
A subset of retinal neurons sends inhibitory signals to the brain, affecting subconscious behaviors such as synchronizing circadian rhythms with light/dark cycles. This discovery sheds light on how eyes influence our behavior and vision in response to light intensity.
A new, implant-free optogenetics technique successfully manipulated neuron activity in mice and monkeys without causing brain damage. The SOUL protein allowed for light-induced alterations in neuronal responses throughout the entire mouse brain and superficial regions of the macaque brain.
Researchers discovered that bacterial cells stimulated with light remembered exposure hours later, laying groundwork for memory-capable biological systems. The study reveals surprising similarities between low-level bacteria and complex neuronal processing.
Lis1 activation mechanism found to prevent dynein's self-inhibition, enabling motor protein function. This discovery may provide insights into neurological diseases like lissencephaly and guide therapeutic interventions.
A study published in eNeuro found that gut microbes significantly impact the brain's response to opioids in rats, altering the pattern of neuron recruitment during addiction and withdrawal. This discovery may lead to new prevention and treatment strategies for drug abuse.
A team of researchers has restored sensation to a paralyzed man's hand using a brain-computer interface (BCI) system, enabling him to detect objects by touch and experience enhanced control. The BCI system enhances neural signals that are too small for conscious perception, resulting in greatly improved motor function.
Researchers discovered that nociceptin neurons in the hypothalamus of mice promote consumption of high-fat food. Removing these neurons from the brain eliminated overeating in mice.
Researchers will investigate the role of interleukin-1 (IL-1) receptor 1 (nIL-1R1) in neuroinflammation-induced dysfunction and behavioral changes. The study aims to identify vulnerable neurons and elucidate cellular pathways underlying psychopathology.
Researchers discovered that PHIP protein resides at the leading edge of GBM cells, enabling other adhesion proteins to deepen the grip of cancerous cells on healthy brain tissue. Suppressing PHIP helped inactivate proteins that form the machinery for tumor cell movement, driving aggressive behavior.
Scientists identified a mutation in the ACOX1 gene as the cause of Mitchell disease, a rare neurodegenerative disorder. The discovery was made using a combination of human genetics and fruit fly studies, which revealed a previously unknown role for peroxisomes in glial cells.
Researchers have developed a novel high-speed microscope to capture millisecond electrical signals in neurons, enabling the study of complex brain-wide interactions. The technique uses FACED technology to create a super-fast sweeping laser beam and detects voltage signals using engineered proteins.
A new UCLA study has identified a key gene, reprimo, which regulates body temperature and may contribute to menopause-related weight gain. The research suggests that manipulating this gene could provide a safer alternative to hormone replacement therapy for alleviating symptoms.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin developed a method to make big data processing more energy efficient using magnetic components. By leveraging lateral inhibition in artificial neurons, they achieved an energy reduction of 20-30 times compared to standard back-propagation algorithms.
Researchers at the University of Virginia Health System have made a groundbreaking discovery suggesting that improper cellular cleanup during brain development may cause lifelong behavioral issues. This process, mediated by the AIM2 inflammasome, plays a critical role in ensuring proper brain assembly and function.
Using reprogrammed human skin cells, researchers successfully restored mobility and sensation in stroke-afflicted rats by transplanting them into their brains. The study showed that the transplanted cells formed connections correctly, repairing damaged nerve circuits.
Researchers at NIH defined a critical window for visual event detection in mice, revealing the superior colliculus plays a crucial role. Inhibiting this region impaired event perception and made mice more susceptible to distracting visuals.
A new therapy targeting Gaucher disease has been discovered using nanovesicles, which can selectively target brain tissue and deliver enzyme replacement therapy without harming healthy cells. This approach shows promise in treating other neurologic conditions like Parkinson's disease.
Gliomas alter astrocyte function, preventing the brain from removing excess excitatory chemicals, which can lead to seizures. The study found that scar-forming astrocytes surrounding tumors play a crucial role in this process.
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have discovered a potential treatment approach for concussions by cooling brain cells to an optimal temperature. The study found that cooling cells to 33 degrees Celsius provided the most protective benefit after 24 and 48 hours post-injury.
Researchers at Max Planck Institute describe different emotional facial expressions in mice, linking them to specific brain regions and emotions. The discovery enables the investigation of emotional mechanisms and their relationship with neuronal activity.
Researchers argue that psychedelic drugs can have therapeutic benefits for mental health conditions. Brain imaging has shown that psychedelics activate specific receptors in the brain, leading to long-term changes in brain functioning and anatomy.
A study published in Nature reveals that the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) plays a key role in the spread of pathological tau proteins between neurons. By inhibiting LRP1 expression, researchers were able to reduce tau spread in mice, offering new hope for potential treatments.
Researchers found that autophagy is dispensable for neuron survival but regulates axonal transport of molecules crucial for learning and memory. The study suggests that modulating autophagy activity may improve cognitive abilities by altering intracellular transportation systems.
A recent NIH study has identified a genetic mutation that improves cognitive flexibility in mice by modifying a protein regulating potassium channels. The mutation was found to enhance the ability of mice to adapt to changing situations, such as finding a relocated platform.
Researchers have discovered that dental pulp stem cells promote neuronal growth in tissue regeneration and cancer progression, while also recruiting facial neurons. The findings open up new paths towards effective therapies against cancer using drugs that modify the communication between neurons and cancer stem cells.
Researchers from the University of Tsukuba identify brainstem neurotensinergic neurons as crucial for regulating non-REM (NREM) sleep. The study found that these neurons promote NREM sleep by producing the neuropeptide neurotensin, which also plays a role in pain and metabolism.
Researchers developed a method to engineer specific populations of neurons to manufacture electronic-tissue composites within living cells. This approach enables targeted use of electrical fields for therapeutic applications, such as pain relief and tissue regeneration.
Researchers have imaged the 'ball-and-chain' mechanism of ion channels using cryo-electron microscopy, providing new insights into their regulation. This discovery has significant implications for designing targeted therapies for disorders such as epilepsies and heart arrhythmias.
A scorpion venom-derived drug has shown promise in treating fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) by reversing motor skill deficits. The study found that administering the drug at 30 days of life improved large- and small-muscle motor skills, suggesting potential treatment for children with FASD.
Research from the University of Cambridge found a link between inflammation and protein build-up in various types of dementia. The study suggests that neuroinflammation is a common factor across different neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease.
Researchers discovered a new neurodegenerative disorder, Mitchell disease, caused by hyperactive ACOX1 enzyme. A study in fruit flies identified therapeutic strategies to reverse damages specific to each condition.
A signaling pathway that helps prevent protein aggregates in brain cells is also required for sleep in fruit flies and zebrafish, suggesting its presence in humans. The study found that suppressing this mechanism led to reduced sleep duration, while overproducing it caused increased sleepiness.
Researchers found that inhibiting apoptosis in fruit fly neurons led to the development of 'zombie' cells that formed new olfactory neuron networks with distinct properties. These neurons expressed different receptors, including those for carbon dioxide detection, giving the flies enhanced odor perception.
Researchers found that propionic acid reduced relapse rates and disability progression in MS patients, with initial MRI studies suggesting reduced brain atrophy. The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in immune regulation, and altering its composition may lead to innovative dietary measures to complement existing therapies.
Researchers analyzed brain cell firing patterns while patients learned word pairs, discovering unique sequences associated with learning and a similar replay pattern before successful recall. The study suggests that brains use distinct neural firing patterns to store memories and then replay them when recalling past experiences.
An international team of scientists has launched a comprehensive overview of all proteins expressed in the human brain, published in Science. The Brain Atlas resource offers medical researchers an unprecedented resource to deepen their understanding of neurobiology.
A study published in PNAS reveals that neurobiological changes associated with aging can be seen at a younger age and may be prevented or reversed through dietary changes. Researchers found that consuming ketones, as opposed to glucose, stabilized brain networks and increased overall brain activity.
A new preclinical study reveals how liraglutide, an FDA-approved obesity drug, interacts with the brain's 'energy balance' system to reduce hunger and promote weight loss. The study identified a distinct group of neurons in the brainstem that play a key role in mediating these effects.