Articles tagged with Neurons
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.
Researchers at Dresden University Hospital have discovered a molecular signal pathway that allows stem cells and pancreatic islet cells to interpret signals in a similar manner. This finding could lead to new approaches for regenerating damaged tissue and treating metabolic diseases such as diabetes.
The Wyss Institute is leading a $21 million IARPA-funded brain mapping consortium to map neural circuits with unprecedented fidelity. The project aims to discover the brain's learning rules and synaptic circuit design, furthering neurally-derived machine learning algorithms.
Research from the Buck Institute suggests that excess iron impairs cellular recycling in Parkinson's disease, resulting in toxic oxidative stress. The study highlights the importance of maintaining a healthy balance of iron within cells to prevent neurodegeneration.
Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have identified a novel regulatory mechanism governing levels of calcium inside cells. The discovery may help scientists understand and target molecular components regulating calcium flux in various diseases.
New research reveals that neurons in the gut play a crucial role in regulating inflammation and protecting intestinal tissue from over-reacting. The study, published in Cell, found that specific types of macrophages are activated by signals from neurons to prevent excessive inflammation.
Researchers at Harvard are using a $28 million grant to study the brain's visual cortex in unprecedented detail and map its connections. The goal is to inspire better computer algorithms for learning and pattern recognition, enabling computers to outperform humans in recognizing patterns from limited data inputs.
Researchers at Columbia University's Zuckerman Institute have created a safer strain of rabies virus that can map brain activity in real-time, allowing for a more complete understanding of brain cellular circuits. This innovation has far-reaching applications for brain research and disease treatment.
A $4 million NSF grant will fund research at MUSC and UAB to map changes in blood flow when specific neurons fire. This could lead to new treatments for neurological diseases by understanding the mechanisms of neurovascular communication.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have discovered that cocaine triggers autophagy, a process that causes brain cells to digest themselves. A compound called CGP3466B has been shown to prevent this damage in mouse nerve cells.
A gene linked to mental disorders helps lay the foundation for a crucial brain structure during prenatal development. Mutations in this gene can lead to severe depletion of neurons in the cortex, compromising its ability to communicate with other brain areas.
Researchers have discovered significant differences in the number of neurons in nematode ventral cords across various species, suggesting that neuron number and anatomy may have evolved multiple times. This variation could lead to the development of more targeted nematicides to control plant-parasitic nematodes.
Using optogenetics and other technology, researchers have for the first time precisely manipulated this bursting activity of the thalamus, tying it to the sense of touch. The work reveals that cells in the thalamus detect potential threats and quickly focus on life-or-death decisions before switching to detailed analytical processing.
Researchers at VA Puget Sound Health Care System and University of Washington find chronic changes in neuron activity in specific brain regions with repeated blasts. Chronic brain damage can lead to emotional difficulties such as mood problems, irritability, and impulsivity in veterans.
Neural clocks have been found to exist and can be used to predict timing behavior in rats. Researchers identified a mechanism in the Striatum brain region where populations of neurons create sequences of activity that encode time.
Neuroscientists have identified a 'predictive neuron orchestra' in the brain that anticipates body movements, such as eyeing and reaching. This orchestration among distinct brain regions enhances decision-making process understanding, potentially shedding light on impaired dynamics in mental illnesses.
Researchers found that a type of lung cell acts like a sensor, linking the lungs and nervous system to regulate immune responses. This discovery may lead to new treatments for pulmonary diseases such as asthma and cystic fibrosis.
Researchers at Duke University found that delayed neural stem cells can cause premature differentiation into neurons and increased cell death, leading to smaller brain development. This study provides new insights into the mechanisms of microcephaly and its potential links to other neurodevelopmental disorders.
A study by Stanford University researchers discovered that activity in two brain regions - the anterior insula and nucleus accumbens - affects an individual's likelihood of taking risks in financial matters. Those with a stronger connection between these regions tend to be more cautious in their gambling decisions.