Research on nerve cells and the circuits they form. Covers neural mapping, brain development, the striatum, and single-neuron recording.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute identified a novel drug that can protect the brain during and after a stroke. The study shows that injured neurons can remain viable if prevented from following biochemical pathways leading to cell death.
A new study sheds light on the molecular factors that render entorhinal brain cells uniquely sensitive to degeneration. Researchers found that a suite of genes is likely involved in making these neurons easy targets for degeneration, with PTBP1 playing a major role.
Tracking each atom in the NMDA receptor has revealed how it transmits and inhibits neural signals. The discovery could lead to better treatments for Alzheimer's disease, depression, epilepsy, stroke, or schizophrenia by controlling the receptor's activity.
Researchers at the Allen Institute in Seattle are building a high-resolution map of Alzheimer's disease by comparing brain cells across patients with different stages of the disease. By identifying specific neurons and cell types affected by the progressive disorder, they aim to find new drug targets and potential therapies.
Scientists discovered a cell signaling pathway that could lead to new treatments for tuberous sclerosis complex, a neurological disorder causing non-cancerous tumors and epilepsy. The heat shock protein cascade restored normal mTOR activity in TSC cells, offering potential drug targets.
A new study in rodents suggests that star-shaped brain cells called astrocytes may be responsible for killing nerve cells in glaucoma. The study found that increased pressure drove astrocytes to release toxins that killed neurons, highlighting a potential target for treating the disease.
Researchers have made significant breakthroughs in understanding chandelier cells, which are key regulators of brain signaling. Abnormalities in these cells have been linked to neurodevelopmental disorders, and studying them may provide insights into disease mechanisms.
A team of researchers discovered that distinct neural circuits in the forebrain send signals to the brain's control center to regulate sighing in response to stress, anxiety, or relief. Sighing rate increased when mice were confined, indicating a complex interplay between physiological and emotional inputs.
Blood vessels in the brain have evolved to form a protective barrier, but recent research shows they can also sense the metabolic state of neighboring neural cells. This allows them to respond to changes in nutrient availability and prevent disease states such as Alzheimer's and vascular dementia.
Researchers at the University of Tsukuba and RIKEN in Japan have identified specific cells in the mouse brain that can trigger a hibernation-like state when activated. This discovery has significant implications for potential human hibernation applications, including medical uses such as emergency transport or critical care situations.
Using human stem cell models, researchers identified deficits within cells damaged by glaucoma and found that correcting genetic mutations could slow disease progression. They also discovered dysfunction in autophagy, a process that removes damaged cells, which correlated with neurodegeneration.
A new study reveals that chemotherapy and cancer contribute to the development of neuropathy, a condition affecting millions of cancer patients. Researchers found that cancer itself causes significant distress to neurons, while chemotherapy amplifies this effect, leading to more severe trauma.
Researchers at University of Warwick discover that tanycytes, a type of glial cell in the brain, can increase appetite by delivering signals to neurons. The study found that stimulating tanycytes leads to an increase in food intake due to the activation of two pathways involved in feeding behavior.
A recent study published in Neurogastroenterology & Motility found that high-fat diets change the nutrient-sensing capacity of Enterochromaffin (EC) cells in mice, leading to increased serotonin levels and potential implications for obesity and type 2 diabetes
Researchers found that the loss of UBE2K enzyme silences key genes for neuronal differentiation, leading to impaired development of nerve cells. The study provides a potential link between epigenetic regulation and neurodevelopmental diseases.
A Stanford team has developed an inexpensive optical technique to simultaneously record neural activity across the entire top surface of a mouse's cerebral cortex. This allows for comprehensive measurement of neural activity and could lead to breakthroughs in understanding decision-making, motor control, and sensory perception.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University develop a novel material called NT-3DFG, which enables remote optical stimulation of neurons without genetic modification or cellular stress. This breakthrough has significant implications for understanding cell interactions and developing new therapies that harness the human body's own cells.
A study by NYSCF Research Institute creates human stem-cell-derived astrocytes that become toxic to neurons in disease-like environments. This phenomenon could lead to effective treatments for neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's.
A new UC San Francisco study found that precise synchronization of high-frequency brain waves is crucial for learning to let go of old rules and make way for new updates. Disrupting these synchronized waves can lead to perseverative behaviors, a common symptom in schizophrenia.
Changes in gut mucus may be contributing to bacterial imbalance and exacerbating symptoms of neurological diseases. Gut mucus plays a critical role in balancing good and bad bacteria in the gut.
Researchers at Lund University and McGill University found that toxic tau protein spreads in the human brain via connected neurons, facilitated by beta-amyloid. The spread of toxic tau leads to widespread neuronal death and eventual dementia.
A SISSA study shows that passive visual experience plays a key role in maturing the brain's 'complex' neurons involved in vision. This discovery has important implications for understanding cerebral development and could lead to new clinical and technological applications.
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.