Research on nerve cells and the circuits they form. Covers neural mapping, brain development, the striatum, and single-neuron recording.
A molecule called Dickkopf-1 accumulates with age and inhibits the formation of new neurons in the brain. Researchers found that blocking production of Dkk1 can restore youthful levels of neurogenesis and improve memory performance.
Researchers successfully created human brain cells from skin cells, which are highly effective in treating myelin disorders such as multiple sclerosis. The study opens the door to potential new treatments using these cells for neurological diseases characterized by the loss of myelin.
Researchers mapped brain regions where individual differences occur, finding variability in areas integrating information and controlling attention. This study provides insights into brain evolution and development, potentially linking diversity of human abilities to specific brain region expansions.
Researchers at Washington State University have made a breakthrough in repairing damaged brain cells using the active compound of chili peppers. The discovery has potential to provide relief for concussions and other health effects seen in athletes and head-injury victims.
Researchers at Monell Chemical Senses Center have identified progenitor cells in taste tissue that can differentiate into functional taste cells, potentially helping treat clinical taste dysfunction. The discovery opens up new areas for studying taste cell renewal and contributes to stem cell biology.
Scientists have visualized molecular changes in a critical protein involved in cell death, providing new insights into apoptosis and its role in disease. The discovery could lead to the development of new medicines that control cell life or death.
Researchers identify new gene associated with Hirschprung Disease and demonstrate how deficiencies in two candidate genes synergize to halt gut nervous system formation. Understanding this genetic basis may lead to better diagnostics and treatment for the condition.
Researchers at BUSM demonstrate that tissues derived from patient-specific induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are not rejected when transplanted back into genetically identical recipients. The study finds that differentiated iPS cells can mature into various cell types, including neuronal, hepatocyte, and endothelial cells, without i...
Research reveals glial cells regulate blood vessel development, leading to potential insights into Alzheimer's and hemorrhagic stroke. A chance finding in a mouse study uncovered a previously unknown crosstalk between the nervous system and blood vessels.
Two new studies identify inherited genetic mutations linked to autism spectrum disorders, suggesting that 5% of autism risk is due to complete gene function disruption. Researchers also found partial loss of gene function and variability in autism severity despite similar genetic mutations.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University found that hyperbaric oxygen therapy significantly resuscitated activity in damaged brains, even years after initial injury. The treatment increased oxygen levels in the body, supplying energy for rebuilding neuronal connections and stimulating inactive neurons.
Researchers exposed fruit flies to daily temperature changes to understand how temperature affects the circadian clock. They found that different brain cells play a crucial role in synchronising the clock at warmer and cooler temperatures.
Researchers at North Carolina State University found that the lack of Sp2 protein disrupts neural stem cell division and leads to a decline in neurons in the developing and postnatal brain. This discovery could have implications for understanding neurodevelopmental diseases and regenerative medicine.
Scientists at University of California, San Diego, discovered that repressing a single protein in fibroblasts is enough to convert them into functional neurons. This finding has far-reaching implications for developing new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Scientists have successfully regenerated sound sensing cells in mice with noise-induced deafness, partially reversing their hearing loss. The technique involves inhibiting the Notch signaling pathway to promote hair cell differentiation from surrounding supporting cells.
A study by USF and VA researchers found that traumatic brain injury leads to progressive brain deterioration, causing elevated inflammation and suppressed cell regeneration. Therapeutic intervention can still help prevent cell death in the chronic stage of TBI.
A new study on guppies reveals that bigger brains come at a cost, with larger brain sizes associated with reduced reproductive output and smaller guts. The research supports the idea that relative brain sizes among species are shaped by a balance between selection for increased cognitive ability and the costs of a big brain.
Researchers mapped out how 1,705 distinct object and action categories are represented across the brain's surface, finding a continuous semantic space that organizes similar categories together. The study's results demonstrate an efficient way for the brain to represent diverse categories in a compact spatial manner.
A new study reveals that mini-strokes result in prolonged periods of brain damage and cognitive impairment, with neurons being lost due to delayed processes. The research suggests a longer therapeutic window to protect cells after these tiny strokes, potentially extending to days and weeks after the initial injury.
A clinical trial has shown that a diuretic can reduce the severity of autistic disorders in three-quarters of children. The treatment, which involves administering bumetanide to children with autism or Asperger's syndrome, has been found to improve symptoms such as social interaction and communication.
A team of researchers has identified KNDy neurons as a likely control switch of hot flushes, suggesting that hormonal changes in menopause trigger vasodilation and increased body temperature. The discovery provides a crucial step towards developing more effective treatments for hot flushes.
Researchers discovered a dedicated olfactory circuit in flies that detects harmful microbes, enabling them to avoid feeding on toxic substances. The circuit is sensitive to low concentrations of geosmin, an earthy odor produced by harmful fungi and bacteria.
Researchers discover at least four different modules in the brain dedicated to self-location, each with its own internal GPS-like mapping system. The discovery challenges previous understanding of how the brain organizes abstract functions and opens up new possibilities for memory formation.
Gladstone researchers propose targeting ApoE4 as a new strategy for treating Alzheimer's disease. They suggest that drugs can correct the shape of the ApoE4 protein, slowing or stopping its progression.
Recent studies have elucidated the mechanisms of lanthanide biological actions, indicating that these metals can alter neural functions. High doses and chronic exposure are associated with neural system damage, particularly in pregnant and lactating animals.
Research reveals that fly larvae fed alcohol-spiked food exhibit lasting changes in brain function, even after abstinence. This study provides insights into the neural mechanisms underlying ethanol dependence and its evolutionary roots.
Researchers at the University of Montreal have identified a chemical chain that causes neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and dementia. Increasing another cell chemical called progranulin has been shown to reduce neuron death by combating mutant huntingtin protein accumulation.
Reintroducing miR-200c to aggressive triple-negative breast cancer cells restores sensitivity to anoikis, causing the cells to self-destruct. This approach shows promise as a less toxic alternative to chemotherapy.
Researchers identified groups of neurons that encode specific behavioral rules by oscillating in synchrony with each other. The study found that the nature of conscious thought may be rhythmic, and that disruptions in brain waves could contribute to neurological disorders such as schizophrenia.
Researchers have identified hundreds of small regions of the genome uniquely regulated in human neurons, distinguishing us from other primates. These regulatory differences may hold the key to understanding human intellectual prowess and susceptibility to 'human-specific' diseases such as autism and Alzheimer's.
A recent study published in Nature Medicine has identified a new cause of hydrocephalus, a devastating neurological disorder affecting newborn babies. By bypassing a faulty cell signaling defect with a drug treatment, researchers were able to reduce the severity of the condition and improve patient outcomes.
Scientists have developed a new tool that can deliver precise points of light to a 3-D section of living brain tissue, allowing for unprecedented control over individual neurons. This technology, called optogenetics, has the potential to treat conditions such as Parkinson's disease and epilepsy.
Researchers at UCSF discover an 'immune exchange' between the brain and blood that allows disease-causing B cells to move in and out of the brain, providing a potential key to unlocking better treatments and diagnostics. The study suggests that targeting specific B cells could lead to precision therapies tailored to each patient's needs.
Researchers used optogenetics to map the neural mechanisms underlying motivation, revealing multiple switches that control behavioral patterns. They identified key regions in the brain stem and prefrontal cortex involved in motivation, shedding light on the causes of depression and psychomotor retardation.
Researchers at Baylor University discovered that low temperatures can prevent hypoxia-induced damage to islet cells, improving insulin secretion. In a second study, neural cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells showed altered oxygen metabolism associated with schizophrenia, offering potential targets for treatment.
Researchers aim to characterize RNA molecule variation in human neurons and heart cells, which may provide insights into aging and disease. They will use novel technologies to analyze individual cell transcriptomes and explore the role of G protein-couple receptors.
Scientists at UC Riverside and Stanford University identified a molecular mechanism that blocks the expression of most olfactory receptor genes in flies, but allows for specific receptors to be expressed in response to carbon dioxide. This complex acts as a brake, releasing only when necessary to generate diverse sensors in the nose.
Researchers identified PUMA, NOXA, and TRB3 as executors of glutamine-starved cells in Myc-mutant cells. The team showed that drugs targeting these proteins induced cell death in assays using neuroblastoma cells and inhibited tumor growth in transgenic mice.
Researchers have created a plentiful supply of glial progenitor cells, which produce myelin, by mastering the chemical symphony that instructs them to divide. This breakthrough could lead to treatments for diseases like multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy.
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara have discovered a way to break a biological signaling system in embryos, allowing them to change the destiny of cells. This breakthrough could lead to new ways of making replacement organs. The study used genetic manipulation and a model nematode worm to unlock cells' destinies.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota's Center for Magnetic Resonance Research found a specific region of the brain, lateral intraparietal area (LIP), that measures time consistently even without external cues. LIP activity decreased at a constant rate between timed movements, suggesting an internal hourglass mechanism.
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.