Articles tagged with Neurons
The Allen Institute has released a comprehensive dataset on the aging brain and traumatic brain injury, providing unprecedented access to data on over 100 aged brains. Researchers can explore this unique resource to identify molecular signatures of disease and develop novel diagnostic strategies.
A powerful genetic regulator, miR-9, has been identified as a risk factor for schizophrenia, controlling the activity of hundreds of genes involved in fetal brain development. The study, led by Kristen Brennand and Gang Fang, found that miR-9 was under-expressed in brains of schizophrenic patients, leading to miswiring of neurons.
Researchers discovered that when people sleep in an unfamiliar place, one hemisphere of the brain stays more awake to keep watch. This phenomenon is related to the difficulty a person experiences in falling asleep and can be reduced by bringing familiar comforts.
Researchers developed a compound called KUSs that may help prevent nerve damage in glaucoma, allowing patients to maintain near-normal vision. Early tests in mice showed promising results, suggesting these compounds could slow down disease progression and potentially treat other neurodegenerative diseases.
Researchers at Drexel University have discovered that the pre-Bötzinger complex in the brainstem generates the breathing rhythm through mixed-mode oscillations. This finding challenges previous theories and may impact how scientists research and clinicians treat respiratory disorders.
Researchers found that neural stem cell transplantation increased M2 microglial proteins, contributing to anti-inflammatory effects and reducing axonal injury. The study suggests a potential therapeutic strategy for treating traumatic brain injury.
Researchers found that uncontrolled fluctuations in Retinoic acid levels can lead to disruptions in brain organization during development. Identifying the protein that interacts with RA to reduce noise may improve understanding of developmental disorders and guide future studies.
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection can cause abnormal brain development in the fetus by activating a key signaling pathway. Studies have found that HCMV substantially reduces the rate of neurons generated by neural stem cells.
Researchers created a mathematical model that reproduces the animals' internal calculations, revealing the existence of a 'separatrix angle' that changes throughout the day. The model predicts real-life behaviors in flight simulators and provides insights into monarch navigation.
Scientists at University of Maryland School of Medicine identified a key pathway for regulating the 'switch' between wakefulness and sleep. The study found that BK potassium channels play a critical role in encoding circadian rhythm in the brain, particularly during inactivation.
Researchers at the University of Bergen have found a link between a gene defect and Alzheimer's disease, identifying protein PITRM1 as a crucial factor in disease development. The study suggests that reduced levels of this protein may lead to increased amyloid deposition in the brain.
Researchers found a novel neuron regeneration pathway in C. elegans that could lead to treatments for human spinal cord injury and paralysis. The discovery sheds light on the adult human nervous system's ability to regenerate, which is essential for restoring health to people with permanent neurological damage.
Researchers at UCSB have mapped the network of circadian neurons that communicate to re-establish synchronization, finding a 'small-world structure' with hubs and short paths for communication. This discovery sheds light on how the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) regulates essential functions like sleep and hormone release.
Salk scientists discovered that specific immune receptors in the brain play a crucial role in clearing both healthy and dying neurons. In their absence, new neurons increased dramatically in certain regions, suggesting that these receptors may also target living but dysfunctional cells.
The study found that the AXL surface receptor is highly abundant on human neural stem cells, but not on neurons in the developing brain. This discovery suggests that the Zika virus may be able to hijack this receptor to infect vulnerable cells, leading to devastating cases of microcephaly and eye lesions.
A study by Carnegie Mellon University researchers suggests that neuronal feedback in the visual system can alter our perception of optical illusions. The study found that 20% of visual cortex activity is due to feedback from higher cortical areas, which may explain why we see completed shapes like the Kanizsa triangle.
EPFL researchers demonstrate that ion channels can be explained by the Coulomb blockade law, a principle governing electron transport in quantum dots. The discovery sheds light on how ions travel through nanopores, a fundamental aspect of cellular function.
Researchers have deciphered an early step in the process of stem cells transforming into neurons, revealing a fundamental understanding of stem cell differentiation. The discovery identifies a new pathway, known as the PAN axis, which plays a crucial role in determining a stem cell's final form.
MeCP2 binds genome-wide using DNA sequence features, revealing diverse modes of binding largely independent of methylation status. Local MeCP2 activities explain gene expression patterns in neurons.
A new study at Rockefeller University uses magnetic forces to control neurons in mice, finding the brain plays a vital role in glucose metabolism. By targeting specific cells, researchers can activate or inhibit neural activity, offering potential therapeutic applications for metabolic and neurologic diseases.
Researchers found that transcranial direct current stimulation causes synchronized calcium surges from astrocytes, reducing depressive symptoms and increasing neural plasticity. This effect is absent when blocking astrocytic calcium surges, highlighting their importance in therapeutic outcomes.
Researchers at IUPUI have successfully identified cellular processes related to glaucoma using stem cells derived from human skin cells. The study found that skin cells from individuals with glaucoma became unhealthy and died off faster than those of healthy individuals when reprogrammed into retinal ganglion cells.
Scientists have developed a novel approach to track neural stem cells using microscopic iron beads and magnetic resonance imaging, allowing for non-invasive tracking without harming the cell. The findings focus mainly on neural stem cells but also show potential for use with mesenchymal stem cells.
Researchers at RIKEN have discovered that calcium inside neurons regulates slow-wave sleep, with seven genes identified as critical for controlling sleep duration. The study's findings could lead to new treatments for sleep disorders and neurologic diseases associated with them.
Researchers have developed a CRISPR-Cas9 based method to track the movement of RNA in living cells. This approach enables the study of disease-related RNA processes and may support therapeutic approaches to correct disease-causing RNA behaviors.
Scientists have created a new technology that converts adult tissue-derived stem cells into human neurons on 3-D scaffolds, which were injected into mouse brains with promising results. The goal is to develop a dense circuitry of neurons that can replace diseased cells and improve therapeutic benefits.
Researchers Qi-Long Ying and Austin Smith won the 2016 McEwen Award for Innovation for their discovery of inhibitory molecules that can mimic embryonic stem cells' ability to generate different cell types. Their work has opened new avenues of exploration towards understanding or treating human disease.
A new method detects multiple diseases via methylation patterns of circulating DNA from dying cells, identifying cell death in specific tissues and offering a minimally-invasive window for monitoring and diagnosis. The approach has vast possibilities for diagnostic medicine and can be adapted to identify cfDNA derived from any cell type.
Researchers have identified a new genetic mutation responsible for Spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA), a degenerative and fatal movement disorder. The mutated Cav3.1 protein, encoded by the CACNA1G gene on Chromosome 17, was found to cause abnormal Calcium ion flow in nerve cells.
The study reveals that protein misfolding in the brain can be toxic, even before visible amyloid fibrils form. Researchers used super-resolution microscopy to observe how alpha-synuclein proteins interact and found that excess soluble protein can cause toxic effects.
Researchers have identified a new molecular mechanism underlying neurodegeneration, which may lead to new diagnostics or therapeutic approaches for ALS. Cells construct protein clumps to protect against neurodegenerative diseases.
Researchers at UCL have made significant discoveries about the brain's role in imagination and navigation. Grid cell activity has been observed in healthy volunteers imagining moving through an environment, suggesting a potential link between grid cells and Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University discovered that malfunctioning mitochondria can cause cell death due to excessive calcium uptake, leading to heart attacks and strokes. Inhibiting this calcium overload could provide a novel treatment strategy for these conditions.
Researchers found neurons in a color-recognizing region of the brain that can infer gravity direction from visual cues. These cells provide critical information for object physics, balance, and posture., The study suggests these cells help humans orient themselves and predict object behavior.
Researchers have pinpointed the effects of Huntington's disease on a specific brain area responsible for complex movements, such as talking or playing music. The study suggests that reintroducing normal patterns of activity in this area may be sufficient to restore normal behavior, offering potential therapeutic targets.
Researchers at UVA University have successfully used a synthetic gene to manipulate the behavior of mice and zebrafish by applying magnetic fields. The breakthrough could lead to new treatments for neurological diseases such as schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease.
Researchers found that the Zika virus directly targets human embryonic cortical neural progenitors, leading to cell death and stunted growth. The discovery provides critical insight into the link between the virus and birth defects like microcephaly.
Researchers have developed FlashTag technology to isolate and visualize newborn neurons, revealing the genetic origin of these cells. This discovery sheds light on how brain development occurs and may lead to new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases such as autism and schizophrenia.
Protein aggregates are toxic and contribute to nerve cell death in diseases like Alzheimer's and Huntington's. The study reveals missing stop signals lead to long lysine chains blocking ribosomes, allowing defective proteins to accumulate and form toxic aggregates.
Researchers found that the fruit fly's visual system incorporates expectations of typical environment features into its calculations. The unequal distribution of bright and dark regions in nature is reflected in asymmetric processing by the fly brain, enabling efficient course correction in virtual environments.
Researchers at the University of British Columbia identified a common ancestral gene that enabled the evolution of advanced life over a billion years ago. This gene, found in all complex organisms, encodes for protein kinases that allowed cells to become larger and transfer information more rapidly.
Researchers at WashU Medicine used whole brain scans to discover that different groups of neurons become active at different times of day, despite being on the same molecular clock. This reveals a new mechanism for encoding daily rhythms in neural signaling.
Researchers discovered a 'circadian circuit' in which clock neurons send signals to the central brain areas that regulate activity and sleep. This mechanism allows time information to be transmitted through the brain.
Researchers from Rockefeller University have identified a hormone called amylin as a critical component of the system responsible for regulating food intake. Amylin acts in the brain to help control consumption, working in concert with another hormone leptin to control body weight.
Researchers found that mitochondria in brain cells rapidly change shape and function in response to high blood sugar levels, affecting peripheral tissue functions. The study suggests that alterations in this mechanism may be crucial for type 2 diabetes development.
Researchers at MUSC have discovered a safe method for producing retinal pigment epithelial-like cells using human proteins, which can be transplanted to treat macular degeneration. The study also found an effective way to repair the damaged Bruch's membrane beneath these cells, rejuvenating the tissue.
Insect taste organs on their legs help guide feeding behavior, with specific neurons processing information differently in the brain and influencing movement towards food or away from it.
Montreal scientists have discovered a mechanism that enables brain cells to adjust their support for neurons, potentially improving brain function or restoring lost potential in disease. The discovery sheds light on the complex functioning of astrocytes, star-shaped cells that protect and support brain neurons.
Researchers discovered a gene, neuromedin U, that promotes wakefulness and suppresses sleep in zebrafish. The protein's function suggests it may be nature's alarm clock, helping to regulate the transition from nighttime sleep to daytime wakefulness.
Copper influx is crucial for brain cell development, allowing for the rapid transport of copper to activate enzymes and facilitate signaling between neurons. This study reveals how cells adjust copper allocation from energy production to enzyme activation as they mature.
Researchers have discovered that young worms can form lasting memories of toxic bacteria smells, using a different set of neurons than adult worms. The study, published in Cell, sheds light on the neural circuits that drive early learning and memory formation.
Researchers have discovered that pectoral fins in fish possess neurons and cells sensitive to touch, conveying information about pressure and motion. This finding sheds light on the evolutionary biology of touch and may inspire new advances in underwater robotics design.
Researchers at the University of Alberta have developed a groundbreaking technique to connect neurons using femtosecond laser pulses. This breakthrough allows for complete control over cell connection processes, enabling researchers to conduct experiments that would be impossible with traditional methods.
Researchers identified two tiny clusters of neurons responsible for transforming normal breaths into sighs. Sighing is vital to lung function and helps preserve lung function, but frequent sighing can be debilitating.
A new study provides a reliable method to generate neural crest cells in just five days from human embryonic stem cells or induced pluripotent cells. The research highlights the critical role of WNT signals, FGF and BMP pathways, and sheds light on the initiation of neural crest cell formation.
Researchers discovered that male fruit flies adjust the amplitude of their courtship song based on distance from females, conserving energy and competing more effectively. This complex behavior sheds light on social interactions across the animal kingdom.
Caltech biologists have developed a vector capable of noninvasive delivery of genetic cargo to adult mice brains, holding promise for novel therapeutics. The approach overcomes the blood-brain barrier problem, allowing for efficient gene delivery and targeting specific brain cells.
A previously unknown mechanism regulating neurogenesis has been discovered, involving precise temporal control of proneural protein activity. This mechanism involves a reversible chemical modification that enables the establishment of a network of functional neurons.
A team of McGill University researchers has created artificial neuronal connections for the first time, growing over 60 times faster than natural neurons. This breakthrough could lead to new surgical procedures and therapies for people with central nervous system damage or diseases.
Researchers have pinpointed cell types responsible for common brain diseases, including Alzheimer's and Multiple Sclerosis. The findings suggest that developing medicines targeting microglial cells could offer hope for treating these conditions.