Research on nerve cells and the circuits they form. Covers neural mapping, brain development, the striatum, and single-neuron recording.
Flavio Donato's research uncovered how neurons in the brain work together to form a highly functional organ. His novel strategy allowed him to label populations of neurons born at specific time points, enabling closer tracking of development among a crowd of neurons.
Researchers discovered that different types of brain tumors and brain cancer cells share common energy production processes, enabling them to adapt and grow in the brain. This study aims to identify new targets for treatment and potentially develop drugs specifically designed to target these survival mechanisms.
Researchers from Lehigh University and Columbia University have developed a new testing approach for deep learning platforms used in self-driving cars, malware-detection, and other systems. Their method, called DeepXplore, exposes thousands of unique incorrect corner-case behaviors, enabling faster identification and fixing of errors.
A new technique has been developed to accelerate the maturation of stem cells into neurons, enabling faster brain tissue regeneration. The method uses a hydrogel scaffold that mimics the elasticity and adhesive properties of the human brain, promoting neurogenesis and neural cell differentiation.
Researchers will count and catalog cell types in mouse brain using single-cell transcriptomics, aiming to build a comprehensive atlas of cell types that can be applied to the human brain.
Research in mice reveals that the central amygdala, not the lateral portion, is crucial for aversive learning and associating sensory stimuli with threat. This finding has implications for treating disorders like anxiety and PTSD by modifying fear memories.
Researchers will systematically identify and catalog cell types across the mammalian brain using molecular signatures and genetic targeting. The project aims to better understand brain function and dysfunction, with potential applications for therapeutic uses in humans.
The NIH BRAIN Initiative is expanding its efforts to develop new tools and technologies to understand neural circuit function and capture a dynamic view of the brain in action. Researchers are making rapid progress in visualizing the brain in action, identifying thousands of brain cells at a time, and developing innovative brain scanners.
Researchers at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center created a phenogenetic map for induced pluripotent stem cell models of neurological diseases, linking cell characteristics to genotype. The iPhemap online database shares knowledge and develops new therapies.
A new study from Penn researchers reveals how genetic variants in the TMEM106B gene lead to disease by affecting cellular structure and promoting abnormal lysosome activity. This breakthrough provides insight into a major cause of dementia in young adults and may lead to development of new therapeutics.
Researchers at Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience have developed a new tool called vSLENDR, which enables precise genome editing in post-mitotic neurons of the brain. This breakthrough technology utilizes CRISPR-Cas9 and an adeno-associated virus to increase the efficiency and flexibility of HDR DNA repair.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University and Weizmann Institute successfully transformed mature cells from various parts of the body into melanocytes, responsible for producing skin pigment. This breakthrough enables the potential for curing deafness and developing novel transplants.
Research finds that social experience with a female mouse triggers separate neural populations and aggressive behavior in males, challenging the 'hardwired' hypothesis. The study reveals that even innate behaviors have a degree of plasticity and computation.
Researchers identified 'speed neurons' and 'direction neurons' in the bee brain that work together to create a memory for navigation. This ability is crucial for bees, as they rely on it to return to their hive after foraging trips.
Researchers found that roundworms can prime a defense mechanism when exposed to the scent of a lethal bacterium, increasing cell survival. This discovery could lead to a non-pharmaceutical treatment for neurodegenerative diseases by stimulating the same sensory trigger in humans.
A study published in Current Biology confirms that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) improves associative learning by modulating brain connectivity between areas, not neuron firing rates. tDCS was shown to increase learning speed in macaques by up to 40% with no increased neuronal firing.
Researchers have developed a new, simplified technique to produce homogeneous human brain cells in the lab, accelerating drug screening and disease study. This breakthrough allows for cost-effective production of large quantities of brain cells within weeks, enabling wider adoption in basic science and industry.
Researchers discovered specialized macrophages called SAMs that interact with sympathetic neurons to affect neuronal activation and fat mass reduction. Blocking SAM-mediated norepinephrine clearance boosts fat breakdown and weight loss in mice.
Scientists have identified genetic processes that enable nerve-supporting cells to transform into specialized versions that facilitate nerve regeneration. This knowledge may lead to new drug therapies for peripheral neuropathies, a set of conditions causing numbness, muscle weakness, and sensitivity.
A comprehensive study mapped specific cell types in mouse brains, revealing three major inhibitory cell types vary across cortical areas, and female brains have more modulatory neurons in certain subcortical regions. The study provides insights into brain function and has potential applications for understanding psychiatric disorders.
A new study published in Brain Behavior and Immunity appears to challenge the theory that microglia play a role in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). The research found no difference in microglial activity between mice exposed to alcohol early in development and healthy animals.
CU Anschutz and CU Boulder scientists have won a $2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to refine their unique 2P-FCM microscope, which allows deeper brain imaging and dynamic focus capability. The researchers will deploy the microscope to laboratories across the country to study neural activity in various species.
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.