Research on nerve cells and the circuits they form. Covers neural mapping, brain development, the striatum, and single-neuron recording.
Researchers at Duke University discovered an antibody that simultaneously blocks the sensations of pain and itching by targeting Nav1.7 sodium channels. The study showed promising results in mouse models, suggesting a new treatment option for pain and itch conditions.
The Mosers' groundbreaking discovery of specialized neurons called grid cells has been recognized with the €750,000 Körber prize. The prize money will support their research on grid cell formation and interaction with the environment.
University of Missouri researcher James Lee has been awarded a $1.5 million NIH grant to investigate the link between amyloid-beta peptide and blood capillary damage in Alzheimer's patients. His study seeks to understand how A-beta interacts with cerebral endothelial cells, leading to cell breakdown and neuronal degeneration.
A new study reveals that the brain learns to hear by decoding rhythmic bursts of electrical activity from cells in the inner ear. The research suggests that abnormal rhythms may contribute to Central Auditory-Processing Disorders, which affect speech and language development in children.
A system of slowly conducting nerves in the skin respond to gentle touch, triggering rewarding sensations. This 'soft touch wiring' plays a crucial role in human social behavior and may be disrupted in individuals with autism.
Researchers at TSRI have developed a new stem cell therapy that shows promise for treating multiple sclerosis in humans. In a mouse model, the therapy resulted in significant recovery of mobility and function after implantation of human stem cells into the spinal cord.
A study by Whitehead Institute researchers has identified a potential treatment for Niemann-Pick disease, a rare genetic disorder. The researchers found that combining low doses of cyclodextrin with the drug carbamazepine can lower cholesterol levels and restore autophagy defects in cells affected by the disease.
Researchers at Harvard University have identified galanin neurons in the brain's medial preoptic area (MPOA) that regulate parental behavior in mice. This discovery could lead to a better understanding of conditions like post-partum depression and potentially offer new treatment options.
Researchers found that human neural stem cells can repair damage caused by multiple sclerosis (MS) in mice, allowing them to walk again. The breakthrough has significant implications for developing a new treatment approach for MS patients.
Researchers at the Salk Institute used stem cells to study neural function in people with schizophrenia, finding unusual activity in early developmental stages that may lead to diagnostic tests. The study suggests that events during pregnancy could contribute to the disease.
Researchers at McGill University found that free radicals stimulate a molecular mechanism that increases cell defenses and promotes longevity. The study used the roundworm C. elegans as a model organism and found that elevating free radical generation induced a substantially longer life.
The study found that rAAV/ABAD-DP-6His increases superoxide dismutase activity and decreases malondialdehyde content, reducing oxidative stress-induced injury in PC12 cells. The treatment also maintains mitochondrial membrane potential and reduces apoptosis, indicating its neuroprotective effects.
Researchers investigated the Pael-R gene's involvement in rotenone-induced Parkinson's disease model cells using RNA interference. The study found that Pael-R expression decreased after treatment, but apoptosis and survival rates did not differ significantly between groups.
Researchers at the University of Adelaide have discovered that stem cells taken from teeth can grow to resemble brain cells, suggesting they could be used as a therapy for stroke. These cells have the potential to form complex networks and communicate like normal neurons, offering hope for new treatments.
Researchers have developed tiny, biodegradable nanoparticles that can carry DNA to brain cancer cells in mice, demonstrating potential for targeted treatment. The particles selectively induce death in cancer cells while leaving healthy cells intact, with the possibility of being given to patients during neurosurgery.
Amita Sehgal's team discovered a circuit in fruit flies that controls their daily behavior, with corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) playing a key role. The research provides new insight into basic brain function and could inform studies on human sleep and circadian rhythms.
A Stanford team has re-engineered light-sensitive proteins to switch cells off more efficiently, enabling researchers to better understand brain circuits involved in behavior and emotion. This breakthrough improves the precision of optogenetics, a technique used to study biological systems with electrical signals.
Researchers successfully transplanted human neural stem cells into nonhuman primate brains and observed their long-term survival and differentiation into neurons. The study holds promise for treating neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
Researchers found that maternal trauma, illness, or substance abuse activates a single gene in brain cells, leading to structural abnormalities and neuropsychiatric disorders. The study suggests that even minor environmental insults can permanently change how brain cells respond.
Researchers used amino-functionalized carbon nanotubes to deliver nerve growth factor, improving complex dispersibility and reducing toxicity. This improved the promotion of cell differentiation in PC12 cells and chick embryo dorsal root ganglion.
Researchers discovered that cancer drugs can eliminate neural inflammation associated with dementia-linked diseases by eradicating microglia, the primary immune cells of the brain. The study found that these cells exacerbate many neural diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, as well as brain injury.
A team of researchers led by Jane Wang from Cornell University has discovered a proportional control law in the tiger beetle's chasing behavior. The study reveals that the beetle uses a sideways force proportional to its prey's angular position to turn towards it.
UAlberta researchers found that activating both AMPK and retrograde response pathways simultaneously can benefit cells with damaged mitochondria. This study provides a new concept for dealing with metabolic problems associated with mitochondrial disorders.
Researchers have gained new understanding of how brain cells are formed and controlled by a key molecule miR-9, which is linked to brain development and function. This study could help explain what happens when cell production goes out of control in diseases like cancer.
New research sheds light on how environmental stressors affect the cells of the developing brain, leading to conditions like schizophrenia and post-traumatic stress disorder. Yale scientists discovered a single molecular trigger, HSF1, that activates in brain cells exposed to toxins, making them susceptible to neuropsychiatric disorders.
Research found that nestin+ neurons project to the olfactory bulb and show compensatory function in the medial septum-diagonal band of Broca. Nestin+ cholinergic neurons may have stronger tolerance to injury than non-cholinergic neurons.
Researchers at UC Irvine's Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center found that bone marrow stem cells significantly improved multiple outcome measures in animal studies of stroke. The effects were robust regardless of dosage, timing, or method of administration.
Researchers at the Salk Institute discovered that BRCA1 plays a crucial role in creating healthy brains in mice, potentially explaining why some women with breast cancer experience brain seizures. The study found that eliminating BRCA1 led to significant neural damage and abnormalities in brain development.
The BRAIN Initiative aims to map all cell types in the brain, develop methods for large-scale recordings of neuronal activity, and advance computational methods to understand patterned neural activity. The ultimate goal is to shed light on disease processes and suggest new therapeutic approaches.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute discover a dual-sensor system for the sense of touch, involving Merkel cells and nerves. The study provides new insights into how gentle touch sensations are detected by the skin.
Researchers have solved part of the hagfish slime mystery, revealing how super-strong protein threads are organized at the cellular level. The discovery provides valuable insights into producing synthetic versions of the threads for commercial use.
The Allen Mouse Brain Connectivity Atlas provides a comprehensive wiring diagram of the mammalian brain, revealing specific patterns in connections between brain regions and varying connection strengths. The atlas offers unparalleled details into how structures are connected inside the brain.
Researchers develop a protein that facilitates control of nerve cells by light, increasing sensitivity and enabling precise activation of selected cells. This technology, called optogenetics, holds promise for studying diseases like epilepsy and Parkinson's.
A UCLA study found that increasing Kir4.1 levels in astrocytes improves walking and prolongs survival in a mouse model of Huntington's disease. The discovery could lead to new drug targets for treating the devastating disorder, which affects one in every 20,000 Americans.
Researchers found that the circadian clock network in fruit flies consists of many independent clocks, each driving activity rhythms. This organization may also apply to mammals, with implications for alleviating adverse effects associated with circadian disorders.
Researchers derived stem cell lines from people with bipolar disorder to study brain cell development and behavior. The comparison revealed specific differences in gene expression, neuron development, and response to lithium, which may lead to new treatment options and personalized medicine.
Researchers found CaM Kinase II plays a significant role in controlling neuropeptide release from neurons, affecting learning, memory, social behaviors, and mood. The study's findings could lead to future therapies targeting altered mood and memory in humans.
Researchers found that the initial stage of autophagy is not directly related to the composition of the Beclin-1 complex. Instead, other mechanisms are likely involved in inducing autophagy. This study highlights the complexity of autophagy regulation and challenges current understanding of its role in neurodegenerative diseases.
A new mathematical model predicts where different types of neurons are located in the brain based on their molecular identity. This approach enables scientists to draw an increasingly accurate map of neuronal distribution in the brain.
Researchers have successfully reprogrammed rat astrocytes into neurons using Mash1, a transcription factor. This method avoids malignant transformation and offers a promising therapeutic strategy for neural regeneration.
Research in mice suggests that autism is characterized by reduced inhibitory neuron activity and increased excitatory neuron activity, but low doses of certain anxiety medications can restore balance. This finding provides a potential new treatment strategy for managing core autistic deficits.
A new study published in The Journal of Neuroscience found that extended wakefulness can result in neuronal injury and loss of brain cells, particularly in the locus coeruleus (LC) neurons. Chronic sleep loss may be more serious than previously thought and may even lead to irreversible physical damage.
Researchers have found a way to slow down the formation of amyloid plaques, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, by rescuing the Golgi structure in cells. By inhibiting an enzyme or expressing a mutant protein, the researchers were able to decrease harmful Abeta secretion by 80 percent.
Researchers at UCSF found a specialized brain circuit that fires more strongly in response to movement, allowing the visual system to work better while walking or running. This discovery could have implications for human vision and navigation.
A team of researchers found that differences in response kinetics dictate differential sensitivity to different features of pulsatile hormone inputs. The study explored the mechanism underlying dynamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) signalling using live cell imaging and mathematical modelling.
Researchers at North Carolina State University discovered that altering the surface characteristics of a semiconductor material can significantly impact how neural cells grow. The study used gallium nitride and PC12 cells to mimic neural behavior, finding varying degrees of cell adhesion and growth on different textured surfaces.
A study published in Neural Regeneration Research found that iron overload exacerbates oxidative stress injury in neural cells under high glucose concentration. The Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway plays a crucial role in this process, suggesting novel therapeutic strategies for diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
A team of researchers from Duke-NUS Medical School discovered a protein complex that disrupts dedifferentiation, a process promoting tumor development. This breakthrough has implications for understanding neural stem cells and developing future cancer therapies.
Researchers uncover an entire network of cellular helpers to mitigate damage, identifying new regulatory mechanisms for the heat shock response. The study's findings may also offer insights into neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Researchers discovered 3D plumes of brain activity propagating through the avian brain, differing from mammalian slow-wave-sleep patterns. This finding suggests alternative computational properties and challenges the layered organization assumption.
Researchers at UC San Diego discovered that direction-sensing cells in the retina send signals to the cortex, enabling brains to process directional movements. The study has practical implications for understanding and treating disabilities related to motion processing.
A yeast model of Alzheimer's disease has identified a drug candidate, clioquinol, that reduces amyloid-β levels by 90% and restores cellular protein-trafficking. The mechanism of action involves chelating copper, which makes Aβ more toxic.
Researchers have uncovered a complex emergency program designated to save single cells and thus the organism itself when exposed to life-threatening conditions. The protein HSF1 plays a central role in coordinating this process.
Researchers at Oxford University identified a key molecular component of the brain's sleep switch in fruit flies, which may also apply to humans. The discovery could lead to new targets for novel drugs to improve sleep disorders treatment.
Researchers found that a 25-minute daily visual training program improved the players' acuity and peripheral vision. This resulted in better on-field performance, including reduced strikeout rates and increased runs scored.
Researchers at KAIST developed K-Glass, a wearable HMD with an augmented reality (AR) processor that works like human vision, improving power efficiency and speed. The processor enables efficient AR experiences in various environments, including outdoor spaces without barcodes or markers.
A three-year study published in Neuroscience reveals how loud sound damage affects myelin, the protective sheet around cells, and its correlation to auditory signals failing to transmit during hearing loss. Understanding this link can help develop strategies to prevent or alleviate deafness or tinnitus symptoms.
Researchers discovered that a well-known protein UPF1 controls the biological circuit to determine whether an immature neural cell remains in a stem-like state or becomes a functional neuron. The study's findings have significant implications for developing new therapies for neurological disorders such as autism and schizophrenia.
Research in zebrafish reveals that loss of brain asymmetry can significantly impact sensory processing. The study found that reversed brain asymmetry resulted in functional changes to habenular neurons, while double-sided brains lacked responsiveness to certain stimuli.
Researchers found that oxytocin, the birth hormone, naturally reduces chloride levels in neurons, controlling the expression of autistic syndrome. Administering a diuretic treatment before birth corrects abnormal chloride levels and restores brain activity to normal levels.