Articles tagged with Neurons
Researchers at Emory University have identified grid cells in rhesus monkeys' brains, which fire in repeating triangular patterns as they explore visual scenes. This finding has implications for understanding how humans form mental maps of the world and may help explain why disorientation is a common symptom of Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers used baker's yeast to identify a chink in the armor of Lou Gehrig's disease, discovering that blocking Dbr1 function can stop protein clumping and allow cells to live normally. The findings suggest therapeutic approaches aimed at blocking Dbr1 should be explored.
Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center has uncovered new insights into energy balance, a complex interchange between the brain's hypothalamus and energy expenditure. The study reveals that GABA neurotransmitter selectively drives energy expenditure and helps explain the fat-burning properties of brown fat.
Researchers found that anesthesia drugs like isoflurane boost activity in a part of the brain that increases during natural sleep, forcing important sleep circuits to fire. This finding could lead to a deeper understanding of how anesthetics work and potentially improve treatment options for patients.
Researchers discovered MICU1's crucial role in regulating mitochondrial calcium uptake, preventing overload and cellular stress. The protein acts as a gatekeeper, setting a brake for calcium influx to maintain beneficial levels.
Scientists at the University of Rochester Medical Center claim to be close to human application of stem cell therapies for neurological diseases. They focus on oligodendrocytes and glial progenitor cells, which can be easily manipulated and transplanted.
Researchers found that monocytes, a type of immune cell in the blood, can rapidly repopulate the brain after microglia are removed. This discovery highlights a strong homeostatic mechanism to maintain resident immune cells and raises possibilities for delivering therapeutic agents into the diseased brain.
Researchers from Inserm unit 693 have discovered that hyperprolactinaemia directly inhibits the secretion of kisspeptin, a neurohormone essential for GnRH release and ovarian cyclicity. Administering kisspeptin can restore ovulation function in women with hyperprolactinaemia.
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego have received a $9.3 million grant from the NIH to develop a three-dimensional map of gene activities in individual cells in the human cortex. Understanding variations between individual cells may be critical to understanding the origins of diseases such as brain disorders.
Researchers from Louisiana Tech University will showcase their study on astrocyte effects on calcium dynamics, exploring how brain cells respond to injury and disease. The presentation aims to provide insights into signal processing in the brain.
Researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center have isolated neural precursor cells from skeletal muscle tissue, which can survive in the brain and migrate to areas where neural stem cells originate. The cells also showed no signs of tumor formation, offering a potential alternative source for treating brain tumors and other central...
A new study identified the PAR1 receptor's role in regulating the brain's response to trauma, providing a potential mechanism for preventing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The research found that stressed events reprogram these receptors, which then determine how the brain reacts to subsequent traumatic events.
Researchers have discovered a way to generate new human neurons from pericytes, a type of adult cell in the brain. This breakthrough has strong potential for treating neurodegenerative diseases.
Researchers at NYU have uncovered the electrical activity of biological clock neurons that help regulate behavioral rhythms. The study highlights the importance of understanding the coordination between neuronal firing and gene expression to develop new pathways for treating sleep disorders.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that male DNA is commonly detected in the brains of women, possibly derived from previous pregnancies with male fetuses. The research suggests that fetal cells may frequently cross the human blood-brain barrier, leading to microchimerism in the brain.
Researchers at New York University have discovered how the biological clock drives daily rhythms in pacemaker neurons. The study found that a specific gene, Ir, plays a crucial role in linking the biological clock to neuronal activity.
A study from Boston Children's Hospital shows that early social isolation prevents cells called oligodendrocytes from maturing, leading to impaired cognitive and social functioning in adulthood. The study identifies a molecular pathway involved in these abnormalities and suggests it could be targeted with drugs.
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that stress breaks the neural loops that store and retrieve short-term information, leading to distractions and decreased performance. This discovery sheds light on how stress impairs working memory and may inform new treatment approaches for prefrontal cortex dysfunction.
A study led by Baylor College of Medicine researchers found that the master gene Atoh1 is essential for regulating breathing in newborn and adult mice. The lack of this gene in specific neurons leads to poor breathing and increased mortality rates.
Researchers found that men have a greater sensitivity to fine detail and rapidly moving stimuli, while women excel at distinguishing colors. This difference is attributed to the presence of more neurons in the visual cortex of males.
Researchers used an experimental cancer drug to treat abnormal brain cell growth in mice with neurofibromatosis 1. The study showed that early treatment can prevent learning disabilities in these children by promoting normal neural stem cell development.
A new study reveals that brain clock oscillations are driven by cellular metabolism, which affects the production and flow of chemical energy in cells. The researchers found that redox reactions in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) oscillate on a 24-hour cycle, opening and closing channels of communication in brain cells.
Abnormalities in mitochondrial length promote neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, while optimal length is essential for maintaining cellular health. The study reveals a complex interplay between proteins DRP1 and actin, which are affected by defective tau protein.
Scientists at UCLA and the Technion have identified two brain regions that encode vowel pronunciation. The discovery may lead to new technology that verbalizes unspoken words of people paralyzed by injury or disease.
Researchers use new approaches to analyze individual brain cells, shedding light on the root causes of chronic pain and memory loss. They found that the chemical imprint of pain occurs in only a few cells, holding promise for developing new treatments.
Researchers at Vienna University of Veterinary Medicine discovered UCP2's primary expression in immune cells, with increased levels during T-cell proliferation. This finding may have significant implications for the development of treatments for immune disorders.
A study from the University of Wisconsin-Madison uses computational approach to determine individual predictability in group conflict. The research proposes a novel estimate of 'cognitive burden,' or minimal amount of information needed to make predictions, using sparse coding principles.
Researchers at UCLA have identified a novel molecule, ephrin-A5, that inhibits new connections between neurons, limiting brain recovery after stroke. Blocking this molecule promotes axonal sprouting and functional recovery in mouse models.
Scientists have successfully controlled monkey behavior using optogenetics by activating specific brain cells with blue light. This breakthrough could lead to the development of therapeutic treatments for neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease and depression.
A Vanderbilt-led team is developing a microbrain bioreactor to improve drug testing by replicating the human brain's complex chemical communication and molecular trafficking. The device will test new therapies for stroke, obesity, epilepsy, and neurodegenerative diseases.
Researchers found that neural precursor cells protect the young brain against high-grade gliomas, especially glioblastoma, by inducing stress-induced cell-death in tumor cells. The cells release substances that activate TRPV1 ion channels in the tumor cells, leading to their death.
Researchers have found that alpha-synuclein protein build-up inside neurons leads to misfiring due to calcium fluxes, a new insight into Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.
A new study published in Radiology found that sodium accumulation in the brain correlates directly with disability in multiple sclerosis patients. The research used 3 Tesla sodium MRI to detect abnormal sodium concentrations in specific brain regions and throughout the whole brain.
Johns Hopkins researchers found a cause-and-effect relationship between the Disrupted-in-Schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) gene and its impact on glia cells in the brain. The study suggests that abnormalities in these support cells could contribute to schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders.
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego have identified two key regulatory proteins critical to clearing away misfolded proteins that accumulate and cause neurodegeneration in Huntington's disease. PGC-1alpha and TFEB provide a new therapeutic target for treating the disease, offering hope for its treatment.
A study published in Neuron found that a brain region involved in empathy, the temporoparietal junction (TPJ), is linked to individual differences in altruism. The size and activation of this region predict an individual's setpoint for altruistic behavior.
Researchers mapped gut-brain signaling after protein-rich meals to limit food intake. Peptides from digested proteins block opioid receptors, suppressing hunger and glucose release in the intestine.
A diabetes drug called metformin has been found to promote the growth of new brain cells and enhance spatial memory formation. The study's lead author suggests that the widely used medication may also offer cognitive benefits for people with Alzheimer's disease, independent of its effects on blood sugar control.
Hermit crabs have an underdeveloped sense of smell compared to vinegar flies, but humidity enhances their olfactory system. They primarily respond to water-soluble polar odorants like acids and aldehydes.
Recent annual citation reports confirm Cell Press's position as a leading publisher of highly cited research and reviews. The flagship journal Cell has increased its impact factor by 9% since 2005, maintaining its status as the premier research journal in its field.
Researchers have developed a real-time brain-scanning speller that allows people with paralysis to engage in unscripted conversations. The technology uses fMRI and mental tasks to encode thoughts letter-by-letter, enabling back-and-forth communication.
Researchers at Gladstone Institutes have generated a human model of Huntington's disease from patient skin cells, providing a more accurate and faithful replication of the disease. This new model will help scientists better understand the development of Huntington's and identify potential therapeutic approaches.
A team of scientists has generated a human model of Huntington's disease directly from the skin cells of affected patients, providing a new tool for researchers to study the disease and test potential therapies. The re-created neurons will help understand what disables and kills brain cells in people with HD.
Cedars-Sinai researchers created a laboratory model for Huntington's disease using induced pluripotent stem cells from patients' skin cells. The 'disease in a dish' model allows scientists to test therapies directly on human Huntington's neurons, offering a new pathway to identifying treatments.
Researchers at the Buck Institute have corrected the genetic mutation responsible for Huntington's Disease using human induced pluripotent stem cells. The corrected cells generated normal neurons in a mouse model of the disease, offering new hope for cell therapy treatments.
Researchers have identified a process by which misfolded proteins, such as alpha-synuclein, travel from sick to healthy cells in the brain, leading to the progression of Parkinson's disease. The study provides new insights into the disease's pathology and offers potential targets for disease-modifying treatments.
Researchers in Japan have concluded that adult-derived induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells and mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells demonstrate similar survival and neural differentiation capabilities when transplanted into mouse cochleae. However, iPS cell transplantation is associated with a risk of tumor growth, highlighting the importa...
Researchers discovered a key brain receptor that regulates gastric emptying and food intake. Mice lacking this receptor showed accelerated obesity and faster food consumption.
A study published in Nature Neuroscience found that neurons controlling hunger are also linked to cocaine addiction, contradicting the common assumption that food is a type of drug of abuse. The researchers discovered that mice with decreased interest in food showed increased interest in novelty-seeking and cocaine.
Scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have created cells that mimic the blood-brain barrier, a filter that separates the brain from circulating blood. These cells hold promise for streamline drug discovery and modeling neurological diseases.
Researchers found that neurons follow a simple pattern described by a power law, which explains their tree-like shape and efficient wiring. This pattern is supported by the growth of newborn olfactory neurons in the adult brain.
A new gene-silencing strategy has reversed core symptoms of Huntington's disease in animal models, suggesting a potential treatment approach for the neurodegenerative disorder. The therapy, involving antisense oligonucleotides, produced sustained benefits with minimal side effects.
A new study proposes a communication routing strategy in the brain that mimics the American highway system, with select hubs forming the influential network known as the 'rich club'. This network provides quick and effective communication between billions of brain cells, with long-distance neural pathways favoring rich club connections.
Researchers have developed a device that delivers a genetically engineered neurotrophic factor directly to the brain, treating neurological symptoms in laboratory rats. The study found significant protection against toxicity and reduced striatal lesion size, suggesting promising therapeutic potential for Huntington's disease.
Researchers at Gladstone Institutes successfully transformed skin cells into brain cells using Sox2 gene, potentially leading to better models for testing drugs for devastating neurodegenerative conditions. The breakthrough could accelerate drug development and reduce risks associated with human trials.
Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center have identified a brain receptor called Gpr17 that appears to play a central role in regulating appetite. Blocking the action of this protein, which is also found in humans, could lead to new drugs for preventing or treating obesity.
Researchers have found an imbalance between neuronal excitation and inhibition in individuals with Angelman syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by seizures, cognitive delay, and severe intellectual disability. This imbalance may underlie the high seizure activity observed in AS patients.
Microglia, the brain's emergency workers, use a long-lasting glutamate-driven calcium wave to detect injuries, allowing them to trace the signal backwards until they reach the site of damage. This discovery could lead to new treatments for conditions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
Researchers at NYU have discovered a new role for non-master pacemaker neurons in regulating circadian rhythms. By studying fruit flies, they found that these neurons suppress signaling of master pacemaker neurons during the evening, allowing them to fire and wake up the fly.
Researchers discovered that astrocytes, which normally nourish and protect neurons, deliver a lethal package containing ceramide and PAR-4 when neurons start producing excessive amyloid protein. This process may contribute to brain-cell death and shrinkage in Alzheimer's disease.