Articles tagged with Neurons
Researchers found that brain cells react to endogenous opioids and synthetic opioids in distinct ways, with synthetic opioids activating receptors in internal locations that endogenous opioids cannot access. This difference could contribute to the more rewarding effects of synthetic opioids, leading to addiction.
Researchers successfully grafted induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural precursor cells into the spinal cords of genetically identical adult pigs, eliminating the need for immunosuppression measures. The grafted cells survived long-term and displayed differentiated functionality without causing tumors.
A new mechanism involved in depression has been discovered, and a potential drug targeting this mechanism shows promise as an effective treatment with fewer side effects. The research found that Elk-1, a molecule directly involved in depressive disorders, can be targeted to give quicker response times.
Researchers used mathematical models to re-enact brain development in humans, monkeys, and mice, finding that the human brain requires fewer initial cells to grow. The study suggests that humans may have adopted a different developmental program to produce neurons efficiently within a longer gestational period.
Researchers at the University of Calgary have shed new light on the identity of brain stem cells that exhibit neural stem cell function. The study found that ependymal cells do not become neural stem cells when activated by injury, but rather regulate their function.
Researchers have discovered that plant cells use glutamate receptor-like proteins to build complex communication networks, with cornichon proteins regulating calcium ion concentrations. This finding opens new avenues for understanding cell-to-cell communication in plants and animals.
A new study published in Neuron reveals that common genetic variants are the primary drivers of migraine risk, with a greater burden of variants linked to earlier onset and more severe symptoms. The research also found that rare Mendelian genes play a smaller role in shaping the genetic landscape of migraines.
UT Southwestern researchers have obtained atomic-scale blueprints of the most abundant class of brain nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. The study's findings suggest new ways to treat nicotine addiction and neurodegeneration by designing drugs that interact with the receptor in different ways.
A study by researchers at the University of Copenhagen has confirmed a connection between the circadian rhythm and aggression in Alzheimer's patients. The team identified a circuit linking the brain's circadian clock to an aggression centre, suggesting a potential target for pharmacological intervention. This discovery may lead to new ...
Researchers have developed a tiny, simple photoactive film that converts light impulses into electrical signals, stimulating neurons and potentially restoring sight to blind people. The technology uses cheap and widely-available organic pigments and has been successfully tested in experiments with non-functioning retinas.
Researchers have developed new mathematics to understand how proteins work together as an integrated network within cells, enabling them to adapt and reset themselves after exposure to a new stimulus. This finding has potential applications in various fields, including cancer therapies and understanding the human hormone system.
Researchers developed a mathematical model showing that two brains can agree on new odors if both have experienced similar overlaps in scents. The model resolves long-held paradoxes about the brain's smell center and highlights an underlying elegance to the olfactory system.
MIT researchers have developed a new MRI sensor that can detect direct signals of neural activity by tracking calcium ions, allowing for more precise mapping of brain function. The sensor can detect subtle changes in calcium concentrations outside of cells and respond in a way that can be detected with MRI.
Researchers at ASRC have developed nanomaterials with the ability to mimic some behaviors normally associated with living matter. The materials can be directed to conduct electrical signals and exhibit dynamic properties, such as self-assembling and disassembling in response to chemical signals.
Scientists have created a system to control gene expression with high precision using light, enabling potential treatments for cardiovascular disorders and regenerative medicine. The CaRROT system can turn genes on and off in specific locations within the genome, potentially driving stem cell differentiation into desired organs.
A global project is underway to map every type of cell in the human body as a resource for investigating health and disease. Penn bioinformatics researcher Casey Greene will use this funding to develop open, shared computational tools and algorithms to analyze large data sets without being instructed what features to look for.
Medical College of Georgia scientists found that drinking baking soda encourages the spleen to promote an anti-inflammatory environment, reducing destructive inflammation in autoimmune diseases. This shift was observed in rats and healthy people, with a reduction in pro-inflammatory cells and an increase in anti-inflammatory macrophages.
Researchers discovered that mature ependymal cells require continuous Foxj1 production to maintain shape and function, but viruses can shut down this process, leading to hydrocephalus. This study may lead to alternative treatments for the condition.
Scientists found that brief sleep arousals are triggered by wake-promoting neurons' electrical noise, which is affected by body temperature. Higher temperatures may lead to fewer and shorter arousals, potentially increasing the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Scientists at EMBL Rome developed a light-sensitive chemical that selectively binds to nerve cells causing neuropathic pain, leading to pain relief. The method avoids targeting single molecules and shows promise for managing chronic pain in humans.
Researchers at the National Institute of Genetics have elucidated a neuronal population essential for fear conditioning in zebrafish, revealing a functional equivalent of the amygdala in mammals. This discovery has significant implications for understanding fundamental neural circuits and their evolution.
A study published in PLOS Biology found that exercise-induced appetite suppression is linked to the activation of temperature-sensitive TRPV1-like receptors in hypothalamic arcuate nucleus cells. These cells respond to heat and play a role in suppressing food intake in response to exercise.
Researchers found that Heriaeus melloteei spider venom can block leakage currents through mutated ion channels, potentially treating hypokalemic periodic paralysis. The toxin fixes the voltage-sensing domain of the channel, preventing ions from leaking out and restoring normal muscle function.
Researchers used optogenetic tools to activate neurons linked to ejaculation in male fruit flies, revealing a rewarding experience. The study suggests that the brain processes ejaculation as a natural reward, influencing motivation and addiction risk.
Researchers generated hypothalamic-like neurons from human induced pluripotent stem cells of super-obese and normal-weight individuals. These brain cells responded differently to hunger hormones and obesity-related genes. The study provides a platform for modeling complex polygenic diseases like obesity.
Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center have developed a new method to study the brain's role in obesity by recreating brain neurons from obese patients' cells. The study found significant differences between super-obese and normal-weight neurons, suggesting genetic mutations may contribute to weight gain.
Researchers at Tufts University have identified the neural circuit in the hypothalamus that mediates leptin's anti-obesity and anti-diabetes effects. The study reveals two distinct mechanisms underlying leptin's inhibition of appetite, providing important insight into how leptin works and how resistance to it develops.
Researchers found that female POMC neurons fire faster than male's due to the expression of gene TAp63, leading to increased energy expenditure and protection against weight gain. This novel mechanism may facilitate future gender-specific therapeutic strategies for obesity and related disorders.
Researchers at Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown uncover exquisitely organized map of visual space in feedback connections, providing insights into visual perception. The study reveals that these connections encode information from further locations in visual space, giving lower structures contextual 'whole picture' information.
A study led by researchers at Linköping University found that amyloid beta, a protein linked to Alzheimer's disease, has different properties in different cell types. Glial cells can produce mature, less harmful forms of the protein, while neurons are more susceptible to damage.
Researchers discovered that specific RNA molecules recognize and combine based on complex shapes to form cellular droplets. This understanding may help prevent the transition to an aberrant, solid state associated with neurodegenerative diseases.
Scientists at University of Virginia Health System have found evidence that doctors can load custom blends of immune cells into the brain to battle diseases like Alzheimer's. The discovery enables doctors to tailor immune responses without radiation, a major breakthrough in treating neurological disorders.
Researchers found mice engineered with Huntington's disease have excessive mitochondrial iron accumulation, leading to dysfunction and neuronal death. This study identifies a pathway for the neurodegenerative disease and has implications for related disorders like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
A protein involved in Alzheimer's disease may be a promising target for treating HIV-related neurological disorders. Elevated levels of BACE1 and Aβ oligomers were found in postmortem brain tissue of HIV-positive humans, suggesting similar mechanisms of neurotoxicity.
Researchers discovered that the apoE4 gene causes damage in human brain cells by altering its main structure and function. They found that adding a small molecule structure corrector eliminates signs of Alzheimer's disease, restores normal cell function, and improves survival in human apoE4 neurons.
Scientists at Oregon Health & Science University have developed a new method to quickly and efficiently recognize the subtypes of cells within the body. This technology, led by Andrew Adey, allows for profiling thousands of cells simultaneously, improving our understanding of disease at the molecular level.
Studies found that a specific brain circuit regulates daily aggression patterns, which can be controlled to minimize evening-time agitation common in dementia patients. By manipulating this circuit, researchers aim to develop new treatments for managing sundowning syndrome.
Researchers argue that targeting neuraminidase, the 'N' protein, could substantially decrease infection rates and reduce disease severity for those infected with the influenza virus. The current anti-flu vaccines concentrate on hemagglutinin, leaving a big hole in immunity.
A recent study revealed neural clustering in V4 that preserves visual acuity, enabling the separation of local and global features. This discovery challenges existing models and offers new insights into how the brain processes visual information.
New study reveals that ultra-slow waves are not just noise in the brain, but a fundamental process that coordinates complex brain activity. The waves enhance electrical activity in areas and persist even under anesthesia, suggesting they may be linked to consciousness.
A new study in mice shows that turning on a gene called LZK can stimulate the healing process after spinal cord injuries, resulting in smaller scars. This trigger has implications for treating brain conditions through gene therapy targeting astrocytes.
A study by University of Sheffield researchers found that honeybee colonies follow the same laws as the human brain when making collective decisions, including Pieron's Law, Hick's Law, and Weber's Law. This discovery could lead to a better understanding of the basic mechanisms of human behavior and cognition.
Researchers discovered a highly specific neural circuit in mice that responds to hunger to create an analgesic effect, suppressing inflammatory pain and allowing the animals to seek food. The study found that acute pain can also suppress hunger, suggesting a hierarchy of needs prioritizing survival behaviors.
Researchers have identified over 30 different subtypes of retinal ganglion cells, the neurons responsible for processing visual information. This comprehensive understanding will enable the development of more tailored drug development and treatment strategies for neurodegenerative vision disorders.
A team of biologists has deciphered the formation of motion-detecting neurons in the fly brain, revealing a complex process based on simple developmental rules. The discovery offers new insights into the fundamental processes governing neural circuit formation and could lead to new therapeutic advances for neurological disorders.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that hunger suppresses chronic pain by targeting specific brain cells. The study discovered that activating a group of 300 neurons responsible for prioritizing hunger over pain significantly reduced inflammatory pain responses, while acute pain responses remained intact.
Researchers at WashU Medicine found a direct correlation between amyloid plaques and tau protein production in the brain. Targeting tau production may lead to new treatments for Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers found that tau production and secretion from nerve cells is an active process in the natural course of Alzheimer's disease. This may explain why experimental treatments targeting tau have had disappointing results. The study provides new insights into the role of tau kinetics in neurodegenerative diseases.
Researchers found that children with autism have too many amygdala neurons early on and then lose them as they age. Typically developing children, however, gain more amygdala neurons over time, suggesting a link between excessive neuron growth and anxiety in autism.
Fruit flies are attracted to unique wing pulse patterns, and exposure to these sounds during development teaches them to prefer their species' own pulse. The study found that female pC1 neurons play a crucial role in the courtship learning process.
Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a new method called SPLiT-seq that allows them to classify and track the multitude of cells in a tissue sample. Using this approach, they can measure gene activity in individual cells, even if there are hundreds of thousands of different cells in a tissue sample.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have found that young neural stem cells store large protein aggregates in lysosomes. Clearing these aggregates rejuvenates the cells' ability to activate and makes new neurons. The study highlights the importance of maintaining precise control over protein production and disposal.
Researchers at DZNE found unstable activity in a key spatial navigation area of older adults' brains, leading to navigational difficulties. This may open up new ways for detecting Alzheimer's disease and designing therapies against age-related cognitive decline.
Scientists at Allen Institute and University of Washington developed scalable SPLiT-seq method to characterize RNA in individual cells, enabling identification of various cell types in the brain. The technique significantly lowers the cost barrier for labs that want to perform single-cell profiling.
The research team found that, when learning a new task, the brain operates under a more stringent set of constraints than originally thought, resulting in good short-term learning but suboptimal performance. The brain tends to repurpose existing neural activity patterns rather than generating entirely new ones.
A researcher at George Washington University is studying the link between stress in the brain and obesity-induced hypertension, with a focus on understanding how cell stress may alter blood pressure regulation. The five-year study aims to identify potential new treatments for hypertension using existing drugs.
A recent study using CRISPR-Cas9 technology identified new genes that may hasten neuron death in ALS and FTD patients. The researchers found that genes controlling cell movement and protein assembly were potential partners in DPR toxicity, suggesting novel therapies for ALS.
A new microscopy technique called SUSHI allows for simultaneous imaging of all brain cells in a specific region, overcoming previous limitations. This breakthrough enables researchers to gain new insights into brain function and organization, advancing our understanding of healthy and diseased brains.
A study has identified a critical protein interaction that triggers the development of spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1), a rare neurodegenerative disease. The researchers found that polyQ-ATAXIN1 forms a complex with capicua, which disrupts gene expression and leads to neurodegeneration.
Researchers at Syracuse University have identified a key protein and enzyme involved in regulating seizures, finding that T-cell intracellular antigen-1 (TIA-1) suppresses severe electrical storms in the brain by increasing cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in neurons.