Articles tagged with Neurons
Researchers have discovered a new protein, NsXeR, that can activate individual neurons and control muscle contractions with high precision. This breakthrough optogenetic tool bypasses uncontrolled calcium translocation, reducing potential side effects.
Researchers discovered a chemical tag added to RNA during embryonic development regulates the early brain's growth. The study found that m6A-tagging is essential for proper brain cell development, with dysregulation linked to psychiatric disorders.
Researchers discovered that impairing the partnership between brain cells leads to neurodegeneration. Apolipoprotein APOE4 was found to mediate lipid droplet accumulation, increasing oxidative stress and breaking protective mechanisms. This study provides new insights into Alzheimer's disease.
A team of scientists at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center has identified a specific subset of neurons that respond to sodium deficiency, triggering an appetite for sodium. The researchers mapped the brain circuitry underlying this behavior and found that it is tightly regulated by hormones such as aldosterone and angiotensin II.
Nerve cell networks reorganize themselves during periods of inactivity, becoming hypersensitive and prone to overreaction when signals are reinstated. Researchers developed a high-speed microscopy process to visualize communication networks of living neurons, shedding light on the effects of blocking neural pathways.
Researchers discovered anastasis has two distinct stages and cells hold onto pro-survival molecules even when dying. The study's findings suggest this process may enable cancer cells to bounce back after treatment, raising questions about the long-term cellular effects of anastasis.
Researchers found that a diet rich in saturated fats damages the brain's hunger control system within days, while gut bacteria changes occur weeks later. The study suggests that this sequence of events may contribute to weight gain and obesity.
Researchers found that pigeons can switch between two tasks as quickly as humans, with a slight advantage in some cases. The key to this advantage lies in the dense packing of neurons in the avian brain, allowing for faster information processing and task switching.
Researchers used a novel method to map protein interactions between mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum, shedding light on their crucial roles in cellular signaling and exchange. Faulty connections have been linked to several neurodegenerative diseases.
A recent study identified a gene associated with schizophrenia risk that plays a critical role in early brain development. The gene, ZNF804A, regulates essential processes such as protein translation and neuronal migration. Understanding its function could lead to more effective treatments for the disorder.
The University of Texas at San Antonio has assembled a world-class research enterprise to develop groundbreaking approaches for treating brain diseases and injuries. Researchers will collaborate on complex projects using expertise in neurodegenerative disease, regenerative medicine, and stem cell therapies.
Researchers found that neurons fire in both cases of noticing and non-noticing, but differently, supporting a nuanced view of consciousness. The study used brain electrodes to record individual neuron activity in awake patients.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet create cell models of human brain using skin cells from patients with lissencephaly, a rare congenital developmental disease. The study reveals that diseased cells matured slower and were less mobile compared to healthy controls.
Researchers at the University of Washington School of Medicine found that different brain areas interact to recognize partially covered shapes. The study reveals how signals from the visual cortex and thinking sections of the brain work together to enhance shape recognition.
Scientists at RIKEN Brain Science Institute discovered that emotional and flexible learning rely on noradrenaline's division of labor in the brain. Two types of learning - fear learning and extinction - require distinct populations of neurons, with different projections to the amygdala and medial prefrontal cortex.
Researchers aim to accurately interpret functional magnetic resonance images (fMRI) of the brain, enabling better understanding of neural responses. By developing a computational tool, they hope to analyze fMRI data with finer resolution and gain insights into neural behavior.
Scientists at the Salk Institute have identified a key protein complex involved in regulating brain cell identity, with high levels of Nup153 found to be necessary for maintaining precursor status. This finding may provide new insights into the underlying causes of neurological disorders such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers have found a subgroup of neurons in mice that drive the critical instinct of thirst, which decreases with increased water consumption. These neurons are connected to other brain regions and play a direct role in regulating thirst drive through goal-directed actions.
Researchers found that the success of transplanting stem cells into the brain to regenerate tissue damaged by stroke depends on the maturity of the neuronal precursor cells used. Mid-differentiated cells were most likely to mature and become neurons, according to the study published in Tissue Engineering.
Eugenia Chiappe, a principal investigator at the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, has been awarded an ERC Starting Grant to investigate how the human brain builds a mental representation of body movements. Her team plans to use fruit fly research as a model to better understand this process.
A new study from Weill Cornell Medicine reveals that nerve cells in the gut play a crucial role in triggering an immune response to infection. The researchers found that these nerve cells communicate with immune system cells through a protein called neuromedin U, enabling them to rapidly respond to threats.
Researchers found that heparin stimulates AgRP neurons in the hypothalamus, increasing production of a neuropeptide that stimulates food intake and contributing to increased body weight. The study suggests heparin may be a potential target for treating eating disorders and obesity.
Researchers found that Zika virus can kill glioblastoma stem cells, which are resistant to standard treatments. The virus targets these cells without harming noncancerous brain cells, making it a promising potential treatment option.
Chemists have developed a technique to create a spectrum of glowing dyes, offering scientists a way to adjust the properties of existing dyes deliberately. This expanded palette could help researchers better illuminate the inner workings of cells.
Researchers at RIKEN Brain Science Institute identified two separate pathways in the fly brain that process landmark locations and self-motion independently. This discovery sheds light on how animals navigate their environment using cues like landmarks and memories.
A team of biologists has found that glia, previously regarded as passive support cells, are crucial to nerve-cell development in the brain. The study reveals that fundamental questions about brain development can only be understood when accounting for glial contributions.
Researchers at Columbia University and the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown have discovered a map in the brain's striatum that guides animal movements. The study used miniature mobile microscopes to capture neural activity patterns of up to 300 neurons, revealing complex patterns of organization that reflect similarity in actions.
A study in monkeys reveals that two distinct brain areas, the orbital frontal cortex and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, are involved in decision-making. The researchers found that monkeys with lesions in one area had impaired ability to track probability, while those with lesions in the other area showed a preference for rewards.
A decline in navigational skills could be an early sign of Alzheimer's disease, according to researchers. Researchers are exploring the possibility of using navigational impairments as a diagnostic tool for neurodegenerative diseases.
A team of scientists at Imperial College London has developed a robot that can guide tiny measuring devices to specific neurons in live mice brains, recording electrical currents without human intervention. This automated platform accelerates the study of brain function and brain disorders like Alzheimer's.
A team of researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine has identified a type of neuron in the brains of mice that promotes sleep by turning off wake-promoting neurons. Lhx6-expressing cells play a central role in regulating both rapid eye movement and nonrapid eye movement sleep, with potential applications for treating various sleep disorders.
Researchers developed DroNc-Seq, a method merging sNuc-Seq with microfluidics for parallel measurement of gene expression in complex tissues. The technique enables identification of unique expression signatures for cell types, including rare ones, and differentiation between closely related subtypes.
A study published by UC San Francisco researchers has identified specific groups of neurons in the brain's temporal cortex that distinguish speaker, phonetics, and intonation. These neurons respond to changes in vocal pitch and help convey meaning and emotion in spoken language.
A study by Claire Tang and colleagues reveals that a subset of neurons can detect relative pitch changes, enabling humans to extract meaning from words. The research found distinct neural responses for males and females, with areas tuned to high relative pitch and low pitch respectively.
Researchers have discovered a critical neural pathway that transmits itch signals from the spinal cord to the brain, with the parabrachial nucleus identified as a first relay. The study provides new insights into the mechanisms underlying itch signal processing and offers potential targets for therapeutic treatment of chronic itching.
A WSU research team developed a computer algorithm that accurately maps brain neural networks, similar to human performance, which could speed up the analysis of brain circuitry. This breakthrough could lead to improved understanding of devastating brain diseases and more efficient treatments.
A team of researchers has discovered a fundamental pathology behind amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia, identifying the basic cellular malfunction underlying the diseases. The study found that an abnormal version of a protein called TIA1 causes phase separation in cells, leading to neuron death.
Researchers developed a minimally invasive technique using magnetism to activate specific cells in the brain, inducing bodily movements such as running and rotating. This breakthrough could lead to advances in studying and treating neurological diseases, including traumatic brain injuries, Parkinson's disease, and depression.
Researchers create complete map of fruit fly larva brain's learning center, a crucial step towards understanding animal brains. The project could guide scientists in charting connections among neurons in mammals' brains.
Korean researchers have identified the early neuropathic mechanism of polyglutamine brain disease and suggested a way to restore. Dendritic-specific Golgi plays a core role in the early neuropathy of degenerative brain diseases.
A breakthrough method has yielded a trove of neuronal subtypes and gene regulators in the brain, using molecular profiling to detect epigenetic regulation. This discovery opens the door to potentially discovering changes linked to brain disorders and compiling the brain's 'parts list'.
Scientists have identified new subtypes of brain cells in mice and humans using DNA analysis, revealing a complex diversity of neurons. This breakthrough opens the door to understanding how many types of neurons exist, which could lead to improved treatments for brain-related diseases.
Researchers have developed a new way to map differences in brain cells by analyzing chemical modifications in their DNA. The study identified 16 subtypes of neurons in mice and 21 in humans, offering new insights into the diversity of brain cell types and potential for understanding brain development and dysfunction.
Researchers identify FMR1 and ZC3H14 as friend genes, regulating messenger RNA in neurons, affecting learning and memory. Mutant flies and mice display impaired working memory and altered brain development.
A study by Charles Zuker and colleagues has shown that the taste system wires itself through a process of cellular reconnection, allowing flavor information to flow from tongue to brain. The researchers found that specific chemical signals in newborn taste receptor cells can pull the right nerve cell connections towards them.
Researchers at SUNY Downstate aim to develop a breakthrough neuroprosthetic to restore vision by stimulating brain cells with light, avoiding unwanted coactivation of mutually suppressive neurons. The project seeks transformative advances in viral transfection and imaging methodology to improve human medicine.
The NeuroNex Technology Hub aims to create new research capabilities using bioengineering technologies, enabling scientists to manipulate and observe brain circuitry. The center's goals include addressing inequities in access to scientific tools and educating high school students.
The Cornell Neurotechnology NeuroNex Hub will develop new optical imaging tools for noninvasive recording of neural activity in animals, overcoming barriers to deep imaging and whole nervous system visualization. The hub aims to enable biologists to explore complex neuroscience questions, such as animal consciousness.
A team of Rockefeller scientists has identified a specific type of nerve cell, called cholecystokinin (CCK)-expressing neurons, as the site where selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) initiate their action. This discovery may pave the way for new antidepressants that act more quickly and produce fewer side effects.
Researchers at Rockefeller University have discovered two brain cell populations that regulate appetite and may offer a new path to treating obesity. The study found that activating specific neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus can suppress hunger and promote weight loss, opening up new avenues for developing effective obesity drugs.
Researchers at the University of Oregon have made significant progress in developing fractal-based retinal implants that could potentially restore vision to people with macular degeneration. The implants use fractal geometry to stimulate retinal neurons, achieving a 90% increase in neuron stimulation while using less voltage.
Scientists coaxed early stage stem cells to create two types of organoids from different brain regions to show how the developing brain maintains proper balance of excitatory and inhibitory neurons. This imbalance has been implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and schizophrenia.
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have worked out how major players in border formation between tissues keep cells in the right places. They found that ephrins and their Eph receptors trigger signalling inside both cells, stopping them from mixing, and that N-cadherin suppresses repulsion between like cells.
The NIH grant supports collaboration with German researchers to develop a new reprogramming technology that can replace neurons lost through stroke, traumatic brain injury, and brain diseases. The goal is to restore function and potentially lead to new therapies for neurological injuries and diseases.
Researchers at University of California San Diego have identified key brain pathways tied to distinct depressive behaviors. The study found that modifying specific neural connections in mice led to improved behavioral changes, providing insight into the interaction between multiple brain areas in depression.
Researchers discover that blast-induced cavitation in the brain's perineuronal nets can cause neuronal damage. The study sheds light on the effects of blast injuries on the brain and highlights the importance of preventing traumatic brain injuries on the battlefield.
Research reveals that the left habenula is crucial for rapid recovery from fear-induced immobilization in zebrafish larvae. The study also sheds light on the development and function of the habenular region in regulating fear responses, anxiety, and mood.
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have uncovered a pathway controlling autophagy, a process that eliminates diseased cell parts. This finding may help prevent diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's by targeting the disposal system.
Researchers discovered a neural circuit in mice that enhances social dominance, boosting chances of becoming an alpha male during aggressive encounters. Stimulating this circuit increased the mouse's winning rate to 90% without affecting motor performance or anxiety levels.
A team of researchers has created behavior anatomy maps in fruit flies to understand how specific brain circuits generate aggression, wing extension, or grooming behaviors. The data will help neurobiologists assign behaviors to neurons and study brain circuits.