Research on nerve cells and the circuits they form. Covers neural mapping, brain development, the striatum, and single-neuron recording.
Researchers at IBS find PLEKHG3 plays a crucial role in cell polarity and migration, allowing fibroblasts to move faster. The discovery can benefit fields like cancer, immunology, and neurological research.
Scientists at Gladstone Institutes discovered that phosphorylation of the huntingtin protein prevents loss of critical brain cells and protected against behavioral symptoms in a mouse model of Huntington's disease. The study suggests a potential therapeutic target for treating the devastating neurodegenerative disorder.
Researchers identify Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) as a key player in maintaining medium spiny neurons' identity and function throughout adulthood. The study reveals that PRC2's dysfunction contributes to Huntington's disease-like symptoms in mice, highlighting its potential role in neurodegenerative disorders.
Researchers at TUM discovered that brain cells, specifically astrocytes, regulate sugar intake and adjust metabolism in response to hormones like insulin and leptin. This paradigm shift could lead to new treatments for diabetes and obesity by targeting multiple cell types involved in metabolic processes.
Duke researchers have successfully converted mouse fibroblasts into neuronal cells using a modified CRISPR technique. This breakthrough could lead to improved models for neurological disorders and personalized medicine. The study's findings suggest that the newly generated neurons retain their properties even after the CRISPR activator...
Researchers demonstrate that groups of activated neurons can form the basic building blocks of learning and memory. They used optogenetic tools to control and observe brain activity in living mice, finding that neural ensembles can be artificially implanted and replayed.
Researchers at Rockefeller University have determined the structure of Eag1, a cancer-linked potassium channel, using cryo-electron microscopy. The study reveals key differences between Eag1 and other potassium channels, shedding light on its molecular mechanisms and potential role in cancer.
Researchers have identified two Zika proteins responsible for thousands of microcephaly cases in Brazil and elsewhere. These proteins stunt brain development and promote autophagy, leading to reduced neural stem cell differentiation and growth.
Researchers at Whitehead Institute have identified the pre-mouth array, a region of the developing face that
Scientists have identified how prion proteins dock onto Schwann cells to maintain nerve integrity. The discovery resolves a 30-year-old question and holds promise for future treatments of Creutzfeld-Jakob disease and peripheral neuropathy.
Researchers discovered that microglia brain immune cells play a major role in the initiation and maintenance of neuropathic pain. Targeting these cells within a few days after nerve injury can greatly reduce chronic pain in animals. This breakthrough could lead to more effective painkillers with fewer side effects.
Researchers identify citron kinase as key to building a normally sized human brain, finding mutations associated with severe microcephaly and lissencephaly. Studying stem cells and human brain tissue provides clues to the condition's origins, paving the way for further research into its causes.
Researchers at Salk Institute discover that the timing of brain activity, not just the number of spikes, is crucial for recognizing shapes and perceiving the world. The study's findings have potential applications in developing more accurate visual prosthetics for people with blindness.
Researchers discovered that microvessels in the brain play a key role in reacting to spikes in demand and accelerating blood flow to respond to neuronal activity. The findings could help explain cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease.
Astrocyte calcium signaling properties studied in visual cortex to understand their role in brain function and potential involvement in multiple brain disorders. The study aims to shed light on fundamental properties of astrocytes, providing a baseline for comparing and testing their role in brain disorders.
A new study identifies a genetic cause of ALS in 3% of cases, with the NEK1 gene playing a crucial role in neuronal function. The discovery highlights the importance of big data in ALS research and offers new targets for therapy development.
A new study pinpoints when melanoma cells metastasize to the brain months before they develop into fatal tumors. Researchers discovered that micro-tumor cells hijack astrogliosis to support metastatic growth, leading to potential early detection and intervention.
A recent study from the Neuromed Institute reveals that two previously separate processes converge into a single cell component, the autophagoproteasome. This discovery provides a new understanding of autophagy, a critical mechanism for cellular renewal and waste removal.
Researchers at the University of Basel discovered that the choroid plexus produces key signaling factors that regulate adult neural stem cells. As people age, these signals change, affecting stem cell behavior and leading to a decrease in new neuron formation.
Researchers found that people's expected performance ratings were influenced by the performance of others, particularly in cooperative situations. The brain imaging data revealed two distinct regions involved in estimating one's own abilities and those of others.
A toxic Alzheimer's protein can spread through the brain via the extracellular space, jumping from neuron to neuron. The spread of tau may explain why only one area of the brain is affected in early stages but multiple areas are affected later.
Harvard Stem Cell Institute researchers found that bone marrow transplantation extended the lifespan of mice with a common ALS-causing gene mutation by 43 days. The study suggests that the gene operates at a crossroads between disease and autoimmunity, and may hold key to developing therapies for specific subpopulations of ALS patients.
Scientists at UC Davis reveal how cells control DNA synthesis in mitochondria and couple it to mitochondrial division. This fundamental discovery has far-reaching implications for understanding cell functions, aging, and a range of diseases.
Researchers found that mice lacking orexin neurons are more sensitive to pain, while activating these neurons decreases pain-related behaviors. This suggests a link between wakefulness and the inability to feel pain.
Researchers found that a specific enzyme is necessary to turn off genes after physical activity ceases, leading to faulty brain wiring and impaired learning. The inability to shut off these genes can affect motor skills and learning abilities, even in adults.
A team of scientists has discovered that the intestinal nervous system protects the bowel's lining against inflammation and microbial aggressions. The researchers found that this mechanism is under control of the Ret protein, which regulates the production of interleukin-22, a molecule important for gut repair.
Researchers have identified a molecule, NCGC607, that shows promise as a possible treatment for Gaucher disease and Parkinson's disease. The molecule helps to break down cellular waste and reduce alpha-synuclein levels, suggesting a potential treatment strategy.
Scientists have found that a time-dependent coding mechanism is essential for distinguishing between similar smells. By inhibiting signals to olfactory bulb output neurons, researchers showed that mice could no longer differentiate between odor mixtures with slightly different ratios or molecules with similar chemical structures.
Researchers found that cockroaches exhibit head-direction-like activity and evidence of contextual cue processing in their brains. This suggests that insects rely on the same sensory inputs as humans and process them in a similar manner.
A new study co-led by Salk Institute scientists found that some people with autism spectrum disorder have brains that grow faster than usual, often before diagnosis. The researchers used stem cell reprogramming technologies to model the earliest stages of complex disorders and evaluate potential therapeutic drugs.
Scientists at Salk Institute discovered that microRNA miR-19 regulates new neuron placement in adult brains and is disrupted in schizophrenia patients. The study paves the way for understanding how adult brains control new neuron growth and its potential link to neuropsychiatric disorders like schizophrenia.
Researchers discovered that cells can pack and release ephrins and Eph receptors through extracellular vesicles, allowing them to transmit signals over a distance. This discovery has significant implications for understanding cell communication and developing new treatments for diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders.
Scientists at Karolinska Institutet have discovered a new brainstem model that shows how the brain controls breathing in response to changes in oxygen and carbon dioxide levels. The study found that when exposed to decreased oxygen or increased carbon dioxide, the brain releases PGE2 to regulate breathing.
Researchers discovered that tiny micro-vesicle structures in blood carry tell-tale proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease, enabling the prediction of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) progression. The findings represent a quicker and less invasive way to identify impending cognitive decline.
Researchers developed a new method to maintain the transplantation efficiency of satellite cells, which are found in skeletal muscles. The study used leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) to enhance muscle fiber formation after transplantation, resulting in two to three times more fibers formed compared to control cells.
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara have discovered a possible first therapy for Mucolipidosis IV by extending their findings from fruit flies to a mouse model. Bone marrow transplantation significantly delayed the onset of motor deficits in MLIV mice, preventing the amplification process that causes neurodegeneration and blindness.
Researchers found that THC and other cannabinoids reduce amyloid beta protein levels and eliminate inflammatory responses in brain cells. This study may provide insights into developing novel therapeutics for Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers from UNC-Chapel Hill and NC State University developed a new technology to improve imaging of neuronal activity in the brain, capturing images up to 9.5 square millimeters - a 10 times larger area than previously possible.
Researchers found that c-Abl activation accelerates α-synuclein accumulation and motor deficits in Parkinsonian mice. This suggests a potential role for c-Abl in promoting neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease.
Researchers at Duke University have developed a new method to control a specific brain circuit in mice, which can alter their mood. By combining super-fine electrodes and tiny amounts of a specific drug, the team was able to restore stressed animals to relatively normal behavior.
Researchers identified 'stop cells' in the brainstem of mice and lampreys that quickly end movement by activating neural networks. The study provides new insights into the neuronal control of movement termination in vertebrates.
A study by Vanderbilt University neuroscientist Suzana Herculano-Houzel found that birds have more neurons packed into their small brains than mammals or primates. The avian brain's smaller and denser neurons enable complex cognitive behaviors, rivaling those of primates.
Researchers have concluded that reprogramming does not create differences between reprogrammed and embryonic stem cells. A thorough study showed that reprogrammed and embryonic stem cells are similar, with a list of 275 key genes that can present reprogramming results.
UC Riverside researchers found that Toxoplasma infection disrupts neurotransmitters in the brain, leading to neurological disease in predisposed individuals. Treatment with ceftriaxone restored GLT-1 expression, reducing extracellular glutamate and normalizing neuronal function.
Chem, Cell Press' new physical sciences journal, aims to move the field forward through original research articles, reviews, and front matter. Key findings include transporters with high selectivity for chloride over other ions, stable phosphorous carbene analogs, and strategies for producing chemicals from renewable sources.
Researchers found that herpes virus infects neurons in colon wall, killing them and preventing food movement, leading to enlarged colon. The study provides a surprising cause for unexplained chronic constipation in some patients.
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have made significant breakthroughs in treating Huntington's disease by transplanting healthy glia cells into mice. The study shows that this method can prolong life expectancy and alleviate symptoms, offering hope for future treatment of neurological diseases.
Duke University researchers have created a system that allows real-time observation of the enteric nervous system, which controls digestion and communicates with the immune system. This innovation enables the exploration of the gut's neural activity in response to medications, diseases, and other stimuli.
Researchers at the University of Sussex found that a circuit comprising just two neurons in a snail's brain drives complex decision making. The system enables energy-efficient behavior by reducing brain activity when food is not found.
Researchers found that Zika virus infects about 20% of brain progenitor cells, which can become neurons, and continues to replicate for weeks without stimulating an immune response. The study provides insights into the severe neurological effects caused by Zika, such as microcephaly and impaired growth in infants.
A new study using optogenetics has increased long-term memory in mice with fear disorders, such as phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder. The technique, tested in two mouse populations, improved memory recall and reduced fear responses, offering potential therapeutic targets for these conditions.
Experts in neuroscience education call for reinvestment in graduate training to prepare students for the challenges of brain science and disease. The paper proposes creating two types of training programs: those that extend traditional neuroscience training and those that engage students with backgrounds in other disciplines.
Researchers have identified a gene mutation that can directly cause the development of multiple sclerosis, a neurodegenerative disease affecting 2 million worldwide. The mutation in NR1H3 gene leads to loss of function of its protein product LXRA, controlling lipid homeostasis and inflammation.
Microglial cells have been found to be 'blind' and incapable of eliminating dead neurons during epilepsy seizures, leading to inflammation and further brain damage. The study opens up new avenues for exploring therapies to encourage phagocytosis and alleviate the effects of brain diseases.
Chronic stress alters the architecture of the brain's amygdala, leading to anxiety and depressive disorders. An experimental new drug may prevent this damage by increasing resilience in mice at risk for developing these conditions.
A team of researchers at Johns Hopkins University has identified a key brain region involved in binge behavior, which could lead to the development of new treatments for addiction. By suppressing neurons in this area, rats were less motivated to engage in binge-like behavior when exposed to external triggers.
Researchers discovered that endocannabinoids reduce activity in the OFC, promoting habit formation. This study suggests that targeting the brain's endocannabinoid system may alleviate suffering in disorders involving habitual control.
Researchers found that endocannabinoids quiet neurons in the orbitofrontal cortex, leading to an over-reliance on habit. The study suggests a new therapeutic target for OCD and addictions: treating the brain's endocannabinoid system to restore goal-directed action.
Researchers found that microglia fail to remove dead neurons during epilepsy, leading to accumulation and inflammatory responses. The study's findings provide a new target for therapies aimed at boosting phagocytosis and alleviating brain diseases.
Researchers at MUSC discovered that blood flow does not precisely follow local neural activity, challenging the long-held assumption that vascular and neural responses are tightly coupled. This finding suggests that fMRI may only reveal a blurred representation of underlying neural activity.