Articles tagged with Neurons
Research reveals spinal cord neurons in the dorsal horn use glycine to inhibit pain signals, while also controlling various forms of itch. The discovery offers new insights into the Gate Control Theory and potential therapeutic targets for pain management.
A research team at UCSF has discovered a noncoding RNA molecule called Pnky that can be manipulated to increase the production of neurons from neural stem cells. The study suggests that Pnky may have broad applications in regenerative medicine, including treatments for Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.
Researchers at the University of Bonn have discovered a new cause of temporal lobe epilepsy: astrocyte uncoupling. This leads to hyperexcitability of neurons and epileptic seizures. The study suggests that inflammation plays a role in uncoupling astrocytes, which can be reversed at an early stage.
Researchers have discovered that the three-dimensional structures of mRNAs determine their stability and efficiency inside cells. This knowledge could help explain minor mutations causing neurodegenerative diseases.
Researchers have identified a group of SCN neurons expressing neuromedin S that are necessary and sufficient for controlling circadian rhythms. The study provides new insights into the mechanisms by which light synchronizes body clock rhythms, offering potential targets for future treatments of diseases related to circadian dysfunction.
The generation of neurons in humans is limited to development, and this process declines with age due to the limited self-renewal of neural stem cells. Therapeutic approaches must focus on maintaining stem cell supply by promoting their self-renewal rate.
Researchers found that neurons in our brains react to time-sensitive information by favoring alternating patterns over repeating ones. This biases can impact medical decision-making and machine learning, highlighting the need for smarter programming and interfaces.
Researchers at Mayo Clinic and collaborators have identified a new class of senolytic drugs that clearly reduce health problems in mice by targeting senescent cells. These treatments aim to limit the effects of aging and extend patient healthspan.
Researchers at Yale University found that Agrp neurons, which control food intake, also initiate repetitive behaviors seen in OCD and anorexia nervosa. These neurons play a crucial role in psychiatric conditions, highlighting the multitasking nature of brain function.
Scientists from Scripps Research Institute found a mechanism causing long-term memory loss due to age by identifying connectivity defects between neurons, preventing the formation of long-term memories. This discovery could lead to ways of rebuilding those connections to improve memory.
Scientists have discovered that abnormal protein amyloid accumulates inside neurons of people as young as 20, which may contribute to Alzheimer's disease. The study found that this early accumulation leads to the formation of toxic clumps that damage and kill neurons.
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory successfully decoded how rats learned to associate specific sounds with rewards, revealing the neural mechanisms underlying auditory learning. The study provides a key insight into how memories are encoded in the brain and may have implications for understanding other sensory systems.
A new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health suggests that manipulating the central nervous system's energy-sensing pathway can cause organisms to perceive their cells as in a low-energy state, even if they are eating normally and energy levels are high. This process may offer an alternative to caloric restriction for pro...
Researchers discovered two groups of neurons in the anterior cingulate cortex that play key roles in predicting what another individual will do. The findings could lead to targeted treatments for disorders such as autism and antisocial behavior.
Researchers at Imperial College London discovered that certain sedatives work by 'switching on' neurons in a specific brain region, triggering deep sleep. The findings could lead to targeted remedies for insomnia and more effective anaesthetic drugs.
Researchers at Columbia University find that brain neurons apply Wald's sequential probability ratio test to make simple decisions, just like Alan Turing did with the Enigma code. This neural implementation of the test allows for rapid weighing of probabilities and rational decision-making.
Researchers found the varicella zoster virus in 74% of giant cell arteritis biopsies, suggesting a link between the chicken pox virus and the condition. The study suggests treating giant cell arteritis with a combination of steroids and anti-viral treatment may be effective
Researchers at Yale University found that marijuana activates neurons in the brain that normally suppress appetite, leading to increased hunger. The study provides insights into why people often experience extreme hunger after using cannabis.
A promising new approach to treat multiple sclerosis has been discovered by scientists at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. They identified a previously unknown change in the spinal cord related to MS and developed a peptide that disrupts this change, leading to major improvements in neurological functioning.
Researchers discovered that brain's grid cells are anchored to one wall and rotated by a specific angle (7.5 degrees) to minimize symmetry and errors in navigation. The rotation is necessary to ensure accurate mapping of environments, even when landmarks are far apart.
Researchers at Temple University will examine how cocaine and HIV-1 interact to cause brain impairment in patients infected with HIV-1. The study aims to determine where to focus potential treatments to disrupt this damaging pathway.
Researchers found that umbilical cord cells activate the Akt signaling pathway, leading to increased expression of antioxidant genes like Prdx5, which reduces inflammation and promotes neural cell survival. This study suggests that umbilical cord cell therapy could be a promising treatment for stroke and other brain injuries.
Human stem cells have been shown to repair damage caused by radiation therapy for brain cancer in rats, regaining cognitive and motor functions lost after treatment. The study uses human embryonic stem cells or induced pluripotent stem cells to replace damaged oligodendrocyte progenitor cells.
SuperAgers, aged 80+, have distinct brain signatures with a thicker cortex, fewer tangles linked to Alzheimer's, and a higher supply of neurons related to social intelligence.
Researchers found that activation of cholinergic neurons in brain stem structures induced REM sleep in animal models. The findings provide a better understanding of brain mechanisms controlling different sleep states, essential for treating sleep disorders.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University have discovered a new reset button for the brain's master biological clock, which can be stimulated using light to alter sleep patterns. This finding has the potential to lead to new treatments for conditions like seasonal affective disorder and reduce adverse health effects of night shifts.
A new study by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Waisman Center has made significant progress in understanding the role of human astrocytes in neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS and spinal cord injuries. Astrocytes, a type of glial cell, have been found to play a crucial role in neuronal survival and proper nervous system signaling.
Gene expression in neurons is crucial for memory formation. After fear conditioning, researchers found altered gene expression in the auditory thalamus and cortex regions of the brain.
Researchers have discovered a neural circuit that controls compulsive sugar consumption in mice without affecting normal feeding behavior, providing a potential target for treating compulsive overeating. The study reveals a distinct subset of neurons responsible for mediating food-seeking behavior and responding to reward consumption.
Scientists have visualized protein degradation in intact nerve cells for the first time, shedding light on how proteasomes remove defective proteins. The study reveals that only a minority of proteasomes are actively degrading proteins in quiescent cells.
A recent study by OIST researchers used chemogenetic inhibition to suppress neuronal activity in zebra finches, showing that the arcopallium region controls song composition but not order or timing. This precise technique provides a detailed understanding of how unique neurons coordinate vocalization.
Researchers at Columbia University Irving Medical Center have identified the brain's on-off switch for thirst, revealing two types of neurons that drive and suppress the sensation. The study uses optogenetics to activate specific neuron populations in the subfornical organ, leading to increased drinking behavior in mice.
Scientists have discovered a novel mechanism that helps cells respond to oxidative stress, a major cause of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. The new mechanism involves a protein modification called ubiquitination, which stabilizes ribosome function and promotes protein synthesis.
A team of scientists has identified a brain circuit in mice that regulates thirst, with two distinct cell types working together to maintain fluid balance. The study found that activating one set of cells triggers drinking behavior, while silencing the other population suppresses thirst.
Researchers have visualized protein degradation in intact nerve cells for the first time, using electron cryo-tomography to distinguish single proteasomes within the cell. The study reveals that only a minority of proteasomes are actively degrading proteins, with most remaining idle.
A study by McGill University scientists found that high salt intake affects brain circuits, preventing the inhibition of neurons that release vasopressin and leading to increased blood pressure. The research suggests that limiting dietary salt may help mitigate hypertension.
Research by UC San Francisco scientists reveals that estrogen-producing neurons play a crucial role in regulating aggression in mice, affecting both male and female behavior. The study found that eliminating these neurons slowed response times to threats and reduced aggression in males, while females showed similar changes in maternal ...
A team of researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory has identified a new pathway that controls fear memories and behavior in the mouse brain. The discovery, published in Nature, reveals that the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus plays a critical role in regulating fear learning and memory.
A study published in Current Biology found a causal link between serotonin neuron activation and patient behavior in mice, contradicting the notion that increased serotonin leads to reward. Researchers used optogenetics to activate serotonin neurons, observing longer waiting durations in mice with stronger activation.
Researchers discovered the brain's role in regulating body fat by combining hormones leptin and insulin, which stimulate the conversion of white fat to brown fat through the nervous system. This process normally maintains body weight but goes awry in diet-induced obesity.
Researchers have discovered a link between Sox10 protein defects and post-operative GI dysfunction in Hirschsprung's disease patients. The study found that mutations in the Sox10 gene disrupts the balance of cell types in the intestine, leading to impaired GI motility.
Researchers found lipid droplet accumulation in glial cells before signs of neurodegeneration appeared, leading to impaired support for neurons. Reducing components of the pathway can delay neurodegeneration.
Rats use simple 'linear summation' to process odor inputs from the environment, with individual neurons responding rapidly to specific smells. This process allows for efficient detection and analysis of odors, despite environmental and respiratory variations.
A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol S (BPS) can cause alterations in brain development leading to hyperactivity in zebrafish. The chemicals were shown to increase the number of neurons born too soon, resulting in problems with neural connections and circuits.
Recent studies using brain imaging show promise in predicting future behaviors such as reading performance, math skills, criminality, and response to treatment. The technology may help identify individuals at high risk of failure, allowing for early interventions and prevention strategies.
A team of scientists developed an automated method to detect neuron activity during specific behaviors in mice. The technology uses c-fos protein to identify active neurons and has been used to study male-male and male-female interactions, revealing novel facts about brain activation patterns.
Scientists at the University of Southampton have created a new technique called multicolour RGB tracking to mark individual brain cells. This approach allows researchers to color-code and distinguish between cells that were previously indistinguishable.
Researchers have discovered microexons, small gene fragments critical for neuron maturation, providing a new understanding of genome regulation. The study found that these tiny exons play a key role in developing neurons and are highly conserved across vertebrates.
Scientists have developed a mathematical theory based on roundworm foraging that predicts how animals decide to switch from localized to very broad searching. The theory could explain animal behavior in a more unified way, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and extraterrestrial behavior.
A new study from Johns Hopkins Medicine found that brain cells fire more rapidly and synchronously when animals focus on touch stimuli, a step toward understanding how brains process external stimuli. The research also showed that synchronization was more important to performance than firing rate.
A new study identifies a neural mechanism for translating unpleasant experiences into fear memories by changing amygdala connections. The findings suggest that Hebbian plasticity is partially correct but requires concurrent activation of noradrenaline to form memories.
Researchers found that Golgi fragmentation accelerates APP trafficking and production of toxic Aβ protein in AD. Rescuing the Golgi by blocking cdk5 or GRASP65 reduces Aβ accumulation, offering a potential therapeutic strategy for slowing Alzheimer's progression.
Researchers have successfully created induced neurons that model Alzheimer's disease by starting with fibroblasts taken from skin biopsies. The differentiated cells express normal neuronal markers and proteins associated with the neurodegenerative disorder, including amyloid beta and tau.
Researchers at Rockefeller University have discovered how tiny channels in neurons translate mechanical force into electrical signals. The TRAAK channel uses a novel mechanism involving potassium ion flow and lipid molecules to balance pain sensations.
Researchers at Hebrew University developed a new light-sensitive film that can stimulate neurons in response to light without using wires or external power sources. This innovative technology has the potential to form the basis of a prosthetic retina for people with retinal damage or degeneration.
Researchers aimed to control harmful signals in strokes by understanding neural excitation pulses. The study found that non-local couplings can produce various spatio-temporal patterns, including acceleration, deceleration, and suppression of pulses.
Researchers are deciphering the 'neural code' of information being sent by neurons to the central nervous system (CNS) to diagnose and treat infections and autoimmune diseases. This could enable timely diagnoses and interventions, reducing mortality rates and complications.
Researchers at Harvard University successfully converted mouse and human skin cells into pain sensing neurons that respond to various stimuli, including acute and inflammatory pain. The 'disease in a dish' model may lead to improved drug development for chronic pain treatment.
Researchers found a commonly prescribed muscle relaxant may be an effective treatment for Wolfram syndrome, a devastating form of type 1 diabetes. Dantrolene blocks the enzyme calpain 2, which causes cell death in insulin-producing cells.
Researchers found a new type of immune T helper cells called TH-GM cells play a crucial role in the immune system and pathogenesis of neuronal inflammation. Blocking IL-7 or STAT5 could provide significant therapeutic benefits for MS.