Articles tagged with Neurons
A research team has developed biotransistors that can record small beats of live cells and micro-tissues, paving the way for drug development and screening. The transistors, made of organic material on a flexible substrate, are biocompatible and offer intrinsic signal amplification, reducing the need for external amplifiers.
Researchers created living biohybrid nerve tissue using stem cells to develop 3D models of neural networks, enabling better understanding of brain function and disease development. The 3D models can be controlled with optogenetics and used for drug testing and studying complex behaviors.
Ruth-Universität Bochum researcher receives ERC grant to study grid cell patterns in human brain, potential link to Alzheimer's disease. The research aims to better understand the role of grid cells in spatial navigation and identify early markers for Alzheimer's.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University created a lens-free, ultra-miniaturized endoscope that produces higher quality images while minimizing brain tissue damage. The microendoscope achieves this by using coded apertures and computational reconstruction to create a clearer image from a 'messy' projection.
Scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine developed a nanosize container made of biodegradable polymer to deliver protein-based medicines and gene therapies, including CRISPR, into specifically selected target cells. The invention could offer a way to efficiently ferry larger medical compounds into cells with fewer side effects.
A recent Johns Hopkins Medicine study found that a protein signal stimulates the generation of vital nerve cells throughout injured areas, crucial for bone repair. Without this signaling pathway, bone formation is hampered, leading to significant reductions in blood vessel formation and mineralization of new bone.
New research shows that nerve cells in the gut regulate gut immunity, maintain homeostasis, and provide active protection against infection. Gut neurons activate pain-sensing neurons to release neurochemicals slowing M cell differentiation and boosting SFB microbes, which guard against Salmonella invasion.
A team of researchers identified a cell surface receptor, CXCR2, essential for hormone-resistant prostate cancer cells. They showed that targeting this receptor can halt tumor growth using a drug originally intended for lung diseases.
Researchers found that epigenetic mechanisms, specifically DNA methylation, play a key role in determining an individual's innate drive to exercise. The study revealed that mice with disrupted DNA methylation in hypothalamic neurons exhibited decreased voluntary physical exercise behavior.
A Freiburg research team has cracked the code on how embryonic stem cells determine which cell types to develop into. They found that genes controlling cell differentiation are selectively used and that transcription factors like Eomes and Brachyury play a key role in this process.
A study published in Neuropsychopharmacology found that targeting cell populations in the nucleus accumbens can prevent addiction relapse. Researchers used chemogenetic receptors to control activity in this brain region, successfully reducing relapse behavior in high-risk rats.
Researchers at Tohoku University have developed a molecule called AUTAC that can target specific intracellular components for degradation via autophagy. This process has been impaired in some cancers and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Down syndrome, making AUTAC a promising innovation for disease treatment.
Researchers at NUS used machine learning tools to discover that stable information can be found within the changing neural population code in the frontal lobe. This finding has broader implications for understanding cognitive flexibility and multiple brain regions interacting with each other.
A new National Institutes of Health study reveals that uncommitted neural stems cells generally survive La Crosse virus (LACV) infection, while neurons are more susceptible. Interferon therapy successfully protects neurons from LACV-induced death in a cerebral organoid model.
A Monash University study has made key discoveries into the role of gene expression in individual cell types of the brain, contributing to Alzheimer's disease. The research highlights the importance of understanding non-neuronal cells in treating this devastating condition.
Research in mice found that environmental enrichment can partially correct mis-mapped neurons in the visual pathway, leading to vision issues in adulthood. Mice raised in enriched environments showed less mapping errors than those in standard cages.
Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley have found evidence that light-sensitive cells in the developing retina are networked and play a more significant role in brain development than previously thought. The discovery suggests that these cells may enhance the influence of light on behavior and brain development.
A study found that selecting embryos based on traits like height or IQ using current knowledge of gene variants may not be effective in increasing the desired traits. The simulations used real-world data to confirm predictions about traits were not always accurate, and limitations such as variability and ethnicity make it challenging.
Researchers have successfully transplanted human neurons into a mouse brain, allowing them to study human neural circuit formation and potential diseases. The transplanted cells followed a months-long period of maturation typical for human neurons and were able to function in the mouse neural circuits.
Researchers found that fruit flies can build and update mental maps of their surroundings by linking visual features to compass neurons, allowing them to adapt to changing environments. This flexible mapping ability has implications for how other animals navigate in the wild and may even influence human navigation.
Researchers found that inflammatory processes triggered by the NLRP3 inflammasome play a key role in emerging tau pathology, a hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. The study suggests that modulating the immune response could be a promising approach for treating these conditions.
The Phase 2 randomized clinical trial confirmed the safety and well-tolerability of a single transplantation of autologous bone-marrow derived MSC-NTF cells (NurOwn) in participants with ALS. Key efficacy findings included stabilization of ALS disease progression, improvement in ALSFRS-R slope, and changes in CSF neurotrophic factors a...
Researchers studied six adults with childhood hemispherectomy and found that the remaining half of the brain formed unusually strong connections between different functional brain networks. This compensation potentially helps the body function as if the brain were intact.
Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and the Salk Institute will explore how spinal networks control movement, developing new treatments for neurological diseases and spinal cord injuries. They aim to create a high-resolution atlas of mouse brain movements and develop testable models of neural interactions.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine discovered that the Zika virus protein NS4A disrupts brain growth by hijacking a pathway that regulates the generation of new neurons. The study found that overexpression of Zika protein NS4A causes microcephaly in flies by inhibiting the function of ANKLE2, a cell cycle regulator.
Researchers identified genetic variations in non-coding enhancer regions of specific brain cell types, such as microglia, which may play a role in disease risk. The study provides new insights into how genes are regulated in individual cell types and has significant implications for understanding neurological conditions.
Researchers discover BRN4 overexpression drives neuroendocrine prostate cancer cell conversion in patients with recurrent cancer. Exosome inhibitors under study as potential treatment.
Researchers at Cornell University describe how cells initiate and perform endocytosis, a process crucial for everyday cell functioning. They found that NECAP acts like a chip clip to clamp shut the AP2 protein complex, preventing endocytosis.
Research on newborn rats suggests that fetal nicotine exposure may impair the function of neurons controlling the tongue, leading to difficulty breathing. This impairment could be a factor in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in humans.
A Rutgers-led team has developed a graphene and gold-based platform that detects genetic material in stem cells, enabling monitoring of their fate. This technology may help resolve key barriers to stem cell therapy for regenerative treatment of neurological disorders.
Researchers at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center have developed a novel drug combination using fenretinide and venetoclax to treat high-risk neuroblastoma. The study found that the combination of these two drugs showed significant activity against neuroblastoma cells, with multiple complete responses achieved in patients.
Scientists at the University of Dundee have created a method to permanently attach a small sugar molecule called O-GlcNAc to proteins in human cells. This allows them to investigate its role in neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, which are thought to be linked to O-GlcNAc disruption.
Researchers found that early exposure to sounds can restore molecular, cellular, and functional properties in the auditory cortex of mice with Fragile X Syndrome. This discovery suggests that facilitating exposure to sounds during early development could be a novel approach to treat hypersensitivity associated with FXS.
Researchers developed a novel computational approach using deep artificial neural networks to predict neural responses to images. The study found that certain stimuli, such as checkerboards or sharp corners, elicit strong responses from neurons, contradicting current dogma in the field.
Computational modeling suggests delayed neural communication underlies anticipatory behaviors, such as tapping along with a metronome or coordinating rowing. The study found that non-musicians exhibit a larger anticipatory tendency than musicians due to pruned attention towards external stimuli.
A new study reveals that human brains process faces in a similar way to artificial intelligence systems, with unique activation patterns playing a key role in recognition. The researchers found parallels between the human visual system and deep neural networks, which can improve face recognition capabilities.
Researchers at Pitt and CMU are developing an all-in-one implantable device that can record neural activity, identify cell type, and determine cell function through chemical stimulation. This innovation aims to provide more information on brain function and reduce invasive methods.
Researchers have made significant progress in understanding brain function by studying the role of lactate in memory formation and learning. The study, published in Progress in Neurobiology, used a novel technique to produce three-dimensional models of astrocytes, revealing their complex structure and metabolic coupling with neurons.
Researchers at Scripps Research identified cellular workings that stop and restart early brain development in tadpoles. When food is reintroduced after a period of starvation, neural progenitor cells resume dividing and the brain catches up on its growth.
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute developed a novel imaging technique to visualize kinesin motor proteins and their cargo. The study shows that the 'smart motor' theory is not the only regulation at play, suggesting the involvement of adapter proteins.
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed a biomaterial that polymerizes estrogen to protect and potentially regenerate nervous system cells damaged by spinal cord injuries. The slow-releasing biomaterial targets injured tissue, reducing further damage and promoting regeneration.
Researchers at Institut Pasteur have identified GDF11 as a blood factor involved in weight loss and aging. The study shows that GDF11 mimics the benefits of calorie restriction, inducing metabolic changes and promoting neurogenesis in the brain.
The study explores how behaviors like empathy and team flow are represented in the brain, shedding light on conditions such as autism spectrum disorder and social anxiety. Brain imaging reveals specific neural circuits involved in social behaviors, providing potential new avenues for researching these complex processes.
New approaches in transcriptomics are providing single cell views of brain development and disease, including cellular processes associated with addiction and degeneration. These studies highlight the potential of transcriptomics to probe molecular changes within brain cells during normal development or diseases such as Alzheimer's and...
Researchers found that DEET traps and masks human scents, preventing them from reaching mosquito odor detectors. This interaction leads to a lower response in mosquitoes, reducing the risk of malaria transmission. The study provides insight into how repellents work and may lead to new, more effective repellent development.
Researchers discovered unique brain cell types specific to male and female mice in the hypothalamus region, which governs aggression and mating behaviors. The study found 17 distinct cell types, with some abundant in males and others only in females.
Researchers found that prolonged blue light exposure damages brain and retinal cells, leading to impaired locomotion in Drosophila melanogaster. Flies without eyes also showed damage, suggesting blue light's harmful effects extend beyond visual perception.
Australian researchers have discovered a link between itchy skin and gut pain in Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) patients. The study found that identical receptors cause both conditions, leading to chronic abdominal pain and rewiring of the nervous system.
Researchers discovered that starved mice prefer sweet tastes and are less sensitive to bitter tastes, attributing this to a neural circuit in the hypothalamus. The study used optogenetic and chemogenetic techniques to activate AgRP-expressing neurons, which modulated taste preferences through two distinct pathways.
Researchers found that protein TET2 plays a key role in regulating the immune response generated by microglia in inflamed brains. This discovery may lead to new treatments for neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
A recent study has identified a key regulator of microglia function during inflammation, which could become a significant component in treating neurodegenerative diseases. TET2 protein modulates the immune response generated by microglia cells in the brain under inflammatory conditions.
Scientists observed how alpha-synuclein protein variants change over time, identifying initial stages of protein aggregates linked to early onset familial cases. They also found evidence of which protein species are important for amyloid filament growth and distinct structures depending on the mutation.
A new study found that brain immune cells called microglia drive brain damage in Alzheimer's patients. Eliminating these cells reduces tau-linked brain damage, suggesting a potential therapeutic target.
Researchers found that aggregates of tau protein disrupt RNA splicing, leading to global disruptions in brain cells. This discovery presents an exciting new possibility for using RNA splicing as a potential target for Alzheimer's disease treatment.
A deadly neurological disease that affects infant boys has been linked to increased sensitivity to iron in the brain. A new study has identified a potential treatment, which enhances the survival of cells involved in the disorder.
Researchers from the University of Seville have discovered a new mechanism that makes it possible to understand premature ageing in cells with asymmetrical cell division. This mechanism is related to the distribution of microtubule-organising centres (MTOCs) during cell division.
Scientists discuss strengths and weaknesses of organoids as a model for human cortex, employing them to study developmental brain disorders. Researchers explore the viability of mini-brains in clinical research.
Researchers at Caltech have developed a new reporter gene that allows for the visualization of genetic activity using ultrasound, enabling the study of gene expression in tumors, immune cells, and other cell types. The breakthrough could lead to new diagnostic tools for diseases such as cancer and neurological disorders.
Researchers identified a neural circuit in fruit flies that controls perseverance, with dopamine and octopamine neurotransmitters playing a key role. The finding suggests that simple organisms like fruit flies exhibit stamina and perseverance, challenging the idea that these traits are unique to humans.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota Medical School found that a little stress can actually improve the functioning of our internal biological clock. Stress leads to rhythmic phosphorylation of eIF2α, promoting production of ATF4 protein, which activates Per2 gene, ultimately making the clock tick faster.