Research on nerve cells and the circuits they form. Covers neural mapping, brain development, the striatum, and single-neuron recording.
Researchers found neurons in the striosome contribute to both positive reinforcement learning and negative-reinforcement learning, highlighting the complex motivation-processing hub in this brain region. Understanding its function is critical for developing better treatments for mental illnesses such as depression and addiction.
New research suggests neural implants need to filter out correlated noise in retinal cells to achieve accurate signals, improving performance by 20-100% depending on light conditions
Scientists have discovered a potential effective treatment for Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) using Ursodeoxycholic Acid, an already approved liver medication. The drug has been shown to increase protective proteins in neurons and prevent cell death, offering new hope for patients.
Researchers found that immune cells surrounding the brain produce a molecule called IL-17, which is then absorbed by neurons and appears to be necessary for normal behavior. The findings suggest that elements of the immune system affect both mind and body.
A new study from JNeurosci found that time-sensitive neurons in the supramarginal gyrus fatigue and distort our subjective experience of time. When repeatedly exposed to a fixed duration stimulus, these neurons wear out, leading to skewed perceptions of time.
Researchers created a synthetic 'molecular bridge' to restore lost connections in the spinal cord and brain of mice with neurological disorders. The molecule, called CPTX, has shown promise in repairing neuronal connections and improving motor performance in animal models.
A study by University of Maryland School of Medicine researchers identified GFI1 as a vital protein in the development of functioning adult hair cells. In its absence, embryonic cells were likely to develop into neuron-like cells. The findings could lead to new methods for regenerating lost hair cells and restoring hearing.
A new study from North Carolina State University has shed light on the earliest stages of Angelman syndrome, a genetic disorder affecting brain development and function. The research used human cerebral organoids to monitor the behavior of a key gene, UBE3A, revealing its role in early brain tissue development.
Researchers at CSHL and Stanford University found a direct connection between stress-sensitive neurons and insomnia-inducing neurons in mice. Stimulating this connection enabled mice to sleep peacefully, while disrupting it caused insomnia. The same connection also affects the immune system, weakening its defenses against threats.
Researchers at Rutgers University are exploring the link between uncontrolled inflammation and microglial cells in the brain, aiming to develop new therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. The team is designing nanomedicines that can target microglia to tamp down inflammation and protect neurons.
The Operation Outbreak platform simulates pandemics with different variables, including R0 and mode of transmission. The app uses Bluetooth-based contact tracing to generate data in the context of human behavior.
Researchers identified a specific brain circuit vulnerable to juvenile social isolation in mice, which may lead to treatments for sociability deficits and psychiatric disorders. Stimulation of this circuit restored normal social behavior in adult mice with juvenile isolation.
Researchers discovered a metabolic adaptation in nerve cells that allows them to counteract degeneration and promote survival. This 'metabolic rewiring' involves the activation of the Krebs cycle anaplerosis pathway, which makes neurons resistant to progressive damage.
Cells use self-generated chemotaxis to create attractant gradients, allowing them to read local and global information about their surroundings. This process enables cells to navigate vast distances through the human body during embryogenesis and other biological events.
Researchers found that a mutation in a tRNA gene can disrupt brain function and behavior, leading to imbalances in excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission. This imbalance has been implicated in numerous neurological diseases, including epilepsies and autism spectrum disorders.
A new investigational therapy has shown to prevent the onset of Dravet syndrome symptoms in a mouse model, increasing gene expression up to 100 percent in neurons. The treatment uses an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) that is reversible and non-invasive.
Researchers at West Virginia University aim to understand zinc's role in neuronal communication, using animal models and sensors to track activity. They hope to uncover the inner workings of the auditory cortex and develop new treatments for conditions like schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease.
Scientists found that most cAMP molecules are bound to proteins, creating nanometer-scale 'prisons' that regulate signaling pathways. This discovery could lead to new targets for cancer and cardiovascular research.
In adult fruit flies, accumulating extra genome copies in brain cells may help prevent cell death caused by DNA damage. This novel anti-aging defence could also shed light on human age-related brain diseases.
A team of engineers has developed a low-power collision detector inspired by locusts' ability to avoid collisions. The device mimics the locust's response to incoming objects, responding in two seconds and using minimal energy.
Research using fruit flies found that certain stationary patterns trigger the perception of illusory motion. The brain's motion-detecting neurons play a key role in this phenomenon, driven by imbalanced responses to stationary edges.
Researchers at the University of Queensland discovered that neurons can fuse together, disrupting electrical circuits and leading to behavioral impairments in nematode worms. The study provides a novel cause for malfunction of brain's electrical circuits and a possible underlying cause of neurological diseases.
Scientists at Yale University found that flies perceive motion in static images similarly to humans, using a shared strategy for motion detection. By analyzing specific neuron types and behavior, the researchers developed a theory explaining how optical illusions work, which may also apply to human visual systems.
Researchers at the University of Bonn identify a disease mechanism where fat crystals cause immune system hyperreaction, leading to chronic inflammation. The study reveals that deoxysphingolipid crystals disrupt mitochondrial function and activate an inflammatory response in immune cells.
A new study by Osaka University researchers reveals that an abnormality of the C9orf72 gene leads to toxic protein production and hinders the cell's ability to destroy defective RNA. This creates a vicious cycle that accelerates disease progression in FTLD/ALS, opening up avenues for potential therapy options.
A new study led by Dr. Christopher Morrison reveals the nervous system cells and circuits that influence our metabolism and health in response to dietary changes. FGF21, a hormone produced by the liver, plays a crucial role in signaling to the brain when protein intake is low, triggering metabolic changes that improve health.
Scientists from Okayama University have developed genetically engineered proteins that can be controlled by light, offering a promising new tool for studying neurons. The engineered proteins, based on natural light-regulated channels, can be activated or silenced using different light frequencies, providing finer control over neural ac...
A team of Harvard researchers found that image-processing circuits in the primary visual cortex are more active when animals move, suggesting a complex relationship between vision and movement. The study's results offer new insights into how neural activity works in sensory regions of the brain.
Researchers discovered that mitochondria regulate the key event of neural stem cells becoming nerve cells during brain development. The study found that mitochondrial dynamics are important to cell fate choice and that this influence is limited to a specific time window, twice as long in humans compared to mice.
A team of researchers at Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown found that the ovipositor, a temporary tube-like structure protruding from the female's abdomen, stimulates the male to attempt mating. The study reveals a sequence of steps in male-female communication that resolves contradictory reports on courtship and copulation.
Researchers found that electroacupuncture can significantly reduce pro-inflammatory molecule levels and increase survival rates in mice with a life-threatening inflammatory condition. The treatment worked by exciting norepinephrine-producing nerves, which activated receptors that suppressed inflammation.
A study published in Nature Communications reveals how pollen tubes grow up to a thousand-fold to reach the ovule, creating electrical activity at the cell membrane and promoting faster growth. The findings have implications for understanding seed production, fungal growth, and neuronal development, and may lead to improved food crop v...
Researchers developed three techniques to replace malfunctioning microglia, with varying efficiencies and donor sources. The techniques offer promise for treating neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's, ALS, and Parkinson's.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine discovered a novel mechanism to regulate ATXN1 levels, reducing protein accumulation and improving SCA1 symptoms. Gene therapy targeting the cerebellum showed promising results by lowering ATXN1 levels and enhancing motor coordination in animal models.
Researchers developed a genetically engineered mouse to visualize fluctuations in circadian clocks of cell types. They found that removing clock genes from AVP neurons disrupted the entire SCN network, while VIP neurons were less affected.
Researchers synthesized current evidence on gene regulatory networks and neuronal networks to understand animal behavior. The integration of these networks reveals complex dynamics, including environmental factors and social behavior influencing gene expression changes.
A study by Tufts University researchers found that estrogen can have a disruptive effect on glucose metabolism in females, but not males, when a specific protein is absent. The study identified a key protein in the brain that mediates these effects and provides insight into the differences between men and women in their risk of diabetes.
Researchers discovered that REM sleep tunes eating behavior by reducing the activation of hypothalamic neurons in mice, indicating the importance of sleep quality in maintaining stable feeding habits. The study suggests a long-lasting effect on neuronal activity and feeding behavior.
A new UCL study using brain imaging found that paying attention increases energy use in the brain, while diverting energy from unattended tasks. The brain has a hard limit on energy supply, which can lead to feelings of overwhelm and neglect of important information.
The team discovered a technique to compress brain signals, focusing on neural activity spikes called threshold crossing rate or TCR, which requires less data while still being able to predict firing neurons. By listening to a specific feature of neuron data called spiking-band power, the SBP method is highly accurate and takes in one-t...
Two groups of nerve cells in the posterior amygdala regulate emotions and drive male social behaviors like sex and aggression. Blocking signals from these neurons impairs males' ability to mate, while boosting them increases aggression.
A new study reveals that SARS-CoV-2 infection drives the loss of smell by targeting non-neuronal cells in the nasal cavity. The virus expresses key genes in these cells, which are responsible for damage and anosmia.
Research by Professor Ami Citri and PhD student Anna Terem at Hebrew University of Jerusalem found that the claustrum plays a significant role in creating associations between rewards and contexts. The study used conditioned-place preference tests on lab mice to demonstrate the claustrum's involvement in incentive salience.
Researchers used the MADM technique to investigate how cells respond to changes in genomic imprinting. They found that cells activate certain gene groups involved in cell death, growth, and synapse development, particularly in astrocytes.
A research team mapped molecular changes in cells near amyloid plaques, finding two co-expression networks that respond to amyloid beta deposition. These networks, expressed by astroglia, microglia, and oligodendrocytes, show both protective and damaging effects on the brain, highlighting the complexity of Alzheimer's disease.
Scientists have developed a wireless, optical cochlear implant that uses LED lights to restore hearing in deaf rats and gerbils. The device generates more selective signals than prior designs, offering improvements over current electrode-based implants.
Researchers found that fat-burning neurons in mice can grow and increase their ability to burn energy when given the hormone leptin. This discovery could lead to new treatments for obesity by targeting these neurons.
Researchers discovered a population of brain-resident immune cells that transfer information from the body to the brain environment. The presence of these cells is crucial for normal brain development in mice, and their absence affects behavior and brain development.
Researchers have shown that when one optic nerve is damaged, the opposite optic nerve shares its metabolic energy with the brain. This sharing process helps explain how neurodegeneration spreads between brain regions in diseases like glaucoma and Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers have identified a specific type of neuron that plays an important role in gait recovery in mice, using machine learning to pinpoint the cells involved. This breakthrough could lead to more effective treatments for paralysis and advance biomedical research.
Scientists have created magnetic nanodiscs that can detect and respond to mechanical forces, offering a new method for studying neural responses and potentially leading to new therapeutic treatments. The discovery could provide a more precise and non-invasive alternative to existing neurostimulation techniques.
Researchers found that misrouted mitochondrial RNA triggers an immune response, leading to cell death in spiny projection neurons ravaged by Huntington's disease. The study also identified a master regulator of gene transcription alterations and matched human brain samples with mouse models.
Researchers at Graz University of Technology developed a new machine learning algorithm called e-prop, which significantly expands the possible applications of AI. This novel approach uses spikes to enable more efficient information processing and reduces energy consumption.
Researchers successfully edited RNA to correct mutations in the MeCP2 protein causing Rett syndrome, a condition affecting 1 in 10,000 live births. The technique holds promise for treating neurological disorders with genetic mutations spread across thousands of cell types.
Researchers developed a new method to map brain-wide connections using DNA barcodes, reducing costs compared to traditional methods. The approach generates virtually infinite labels to distinguish individual cells, enabling the creation of accurate anatomical maps.
Scientists at TU Dresden and HZDR successfully imitated brain neuron functioning using semiconductor materials. This development enables more efficient and intelligent computing, with potential applications in areas such as robotics and image recognition.
A new NIH study suggests that deactivating certain genes in the human genome may play a role in controlling the differentiation of stem cells into neurons. The research found that these genes, which were once thought to be inactive 'junk DNA', may help regulate the maturation process of stem cells, leading to improved understanding of ...
Amber Alhadeff, a behavioral neurobiologist at Monell Chemical Senses Center, has been awarded a $225,000 Klingenstein-Simons Fellowship Award in Neurosciences to study the role of gut signals in hunger-related neurons. Her research aims to improve understanding of diet-related diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Researchers are exploring how amyloid plaques degrade the brain's vascular system by impairing astrocytes, leading to a weakening of the blood-brain barrier. The study aims to pinpoint genes and proteins in astrocytes that contribute to Alzheimer's disease progression.
Researchers developed a neural network capable of recognizing retinal tissues during differentiation without modifying cells. The method allows for growing retinal tissue for developing cell replacement therapies to treat blindness and conducting research into new drugs.