Articles tagged with Neurons
A new study suggests that egocentric behavior in children is linked to an immature prefrontal cortex, rather than a lack of understanding of fairness. Researchers found age-related increases in strategic decision-making between ages 6-13 years, with improved impulse control and brain activity in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.
Researchers discovered a simple nervous system linking stinging cells and light-detecting nerve cells in Hydra magnipapillata, suggesting that light-sensing capabilities predated eye evolution. The study found that Hydras fire their stingers less in bright than in dim light, indicating the presence of light-sensitive neurons.
Researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center used fMRI to study brain activity before and after monkeys learned new memory tasks. They found that a small group of neurons specialized in the new task were activated while retaining existing information.
The study reveals that the REST molecule acts as an adapter for genetic switches, coupling molecular on-off switches with neural genes to regulate neuronal development. This mechanism is essential for proper brain function and may be linked to cancer and other diseases.
Researchers have found a brain mechanism that coordinates eye and arm movements, which may have implications for rehabilitation and prosthetics. The study used macaque monkeys to examine the neurological activity of the posterior parietal cortex, finding coherent patterns of firing in regions specialized for moving eyes or arms.
A new on-off switch for hormone production has been discovered in the brain by Dr. Gil Levkowitz's team, which regulates corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) release. The switch involves a protein called Otp that activates CRH genes and regulates receptor variants, potentially contributing to stress-related disorders.
Researchers have developed a light-controlled neural inhibitor that can inhibit pain-sensitive neurons. The compound QAQ acts as a photosensitive switch, and its conformation can be altered by light, enabling it to bind to specific receptors on nerve cells.
Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center have discovered that dorsal root ganglion neurons can create thick, healthy nerves without provoking an immune response. This breakthrough could lead to better treatment options for the over 350,000 patients with serious nerve injuries in the US each year.
Researchers at Purdue University have discovered a protein mutation that disrupts the protective function of DJ-1, a key player in preventing neuronal death in Parkinson's disease. This finding may lead to new treatment strategies by targeting this error in the protein.
Researchers at EMBL and IGBMC discovered a ring-like structure in the Elongator protein complex, which holds tRNA in place while introducing chemical modifications to DNA. This ensures accurate protein production. The findings also suggest that the complex employs tools and tricks to perform its tasks inside cells.
A Wayne State University researcher is developing a model to focus on the causes of everyday MS symptoms. The goal is to provide more effective treatments and improve daily functioning for patients.
Researchers at the Salk Institute found that certain proteins, called extremely long-lived proteins (ELLPs), last a lifetime without being replaced. Damage to these proteins weakens the ability of transport channels to safeguard the cell's nucleus from toxins, leading to cellular aging.
A new approach to lung tissue development could provide a virtually limitless supply of donor lungs while avoiding rejection. The method involves decellularizing an organ and recellularizing it with stem cells from the recipient, potentially overcoming the need for donor organs.
New technique allows scientists to observe development of brain cells for first time, shedding light on disease mechanism. The study could lead to new treatment options by understanding how these cells develop and function.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have successfully converted mouse skin cells into neural precursor cells with high efficiency. This breakthrough could potentially refute the need for pluripotency and offer a more direct way to generate specific cell types for therapy or research.
Researchers at OHSU have discovered a critical link between brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and Rett syndrome, a neurological disorder affecting one in 10,000 baby girls. The study found that mutant neurons in the brainstem fail to produce BDNF, leading to breathing difficulties and other symptoms.
Researchers discovered a novel intracellular signaling pathway controlling stress-induced CRH gene expression, revealing a key role for Orthopedia protein in stress adaptation. This regulation is critical for neuronal adaptation and failure to activate or terminate the CRH response can lead to chronic pathological conditions.
Neural stem cell derivatives from human pluripotent stem cells are prone to chromosomal instability, particularly with chromosome 1q, which has been linked to blood cell cancers and pediatric brain tumors.
Scientists have developed a reliable system to model and quantify protein aggregation's impact on cell viability, division, and aging. The study uses Escherichia coli bacteria and the AB42 peptide to predict protein aggregation's effects on cell aging, revealing potential natural chaperones that reduce this damage.
Researchers have discovered a gene called distal-less critical to the fruit fly's ability to receive and process smells. In humans, this gene has also been linked to autism and epilepsy. The study found that the gene plays a key role in generating and maintaining stem cells responsible for processing odors.
Jackson Laboratory researchers discovered a defect in RNA splicing process that contributes to neurological disease. A mutation in one copy of the U2 snRNA gene causes neurodegeneration, leading to movement problems and early neuron death in mice.
Researchers have discovered a key to stopping brain cancer cell growth and migration by inhibiting a specific signaling pathway. The study, published in Nature: Oncogene, shows that targeting the Mer pathway can make brain cancer cells more sensitive to chemotherapy and prevent them from escaping to other areas of the brain.
Researchers have discovered the unique walking mechanism of dynein, a critical motor protein in every cell. The 'drunken sailor' gait allows the protein to navigate obstacles while performing transport functions, potentially shedding light on neurodegenerative diseases.
Researchers have discovered a way to selectively target the glutathione pathway in brain cancer cells, making them more susceptible to chemotherapy. The breakthrough could potentially improve treatment outcomes for the nearly 45,000 people diagnosed with brain cancer each year.
Researchers found that specific brain areas underlie perception of different 3D structures, including convex and concave surfaces. Electrical stimulation of these areas influenced monkeys' choices and decision-making times.
Scientists at EMBL have developed a new method to observe enhancer activity during development, showing that specific chromatin modifications trigger gene expression. This breakthrough provides cell-type specific information on enhancer activity and gene status in multicellular embryos.
Researchers at the Salk Institute have produced neuron-by-neuron maps of the mouse brain's visual processing system, laying the groundwork for decoding brain circuitry using genetic research techniques. The study revealed specialized roles for different areas in processing visual information, including direction and fine detail.
Researchers found an abnormality in the early steps of auditory processing in the brain, called 'sampling', linked to dyslexia. Dyslexics exhibited enhanced responses to high-frequency rhythms that interfered with verbal memory.
A team led by University of Miami professor Akira Chiba has developed a novel methodology to examine protein-protein interactions in the fruit fly, allowing for the creation of a point-by-point map of these interactions. This breakthrough uses custom-built 3D FLIM imaging technology to visualize protein associations in live cells.
Honey bee swarms face a decision when finding multiple potential nest sites, using stop signals similar to those in primate brains to shorten dances and end the recruitment process. This cross inhibition helps ensure a single optimal site is chosen, avoiding deadlocks between equal-quality alternatives.
Researchers analyzed long-term imaging data to uncover coordinated anatomical changes in brain development across the cortex. They found that functionally connected regions mature together and exhibit tightly coupled patterns of growth, with notable differences between males and females.
Research suggests that surprising good or bad outcomes drive learning, with neurons in the lateral prefrontal cortex and caudate nucleus processing unexpected rewards and disappointments similarly. This finding may inform future therapies to accelerate re-learning in patients with brain damage.
A new study reveals that child abuse can alter brain activity, making children more vulnerable to anxiety and depression. The research shows that exposed children exhibit heightened responses to threat cues, potentially serving as an adaptive response but also increasing long-term vulnerability.
Researchers have identified a new pool of stem cells in the heart with long-term expansion capacity and ability to form various cell types, including muscle, bone, and neural cells. This discovery may lay the foundation for regenerative therapies to enhance tissue repair in the heart.
Researchers found that Dantrolene, a muscle relaxant, reduces the severity of walking and balance problems in mice with Huntington's disease. The drug prevents calcium-dependent toxicity in laboratory-grown neurons and protects coordination in mice with HD-like disease.
A recent study reveals that individuals with grapheme-color synesthesia exhibit increased activity in the brain's visual cortex, a finding that provides insight into the neural mechanisms underlying conscious awareness. The research also suggests that the brains of synesthetes may be more excitable than those without the condition.
Researchers discovered a cellular mechanism allowing brain cells to translate different diets into distinct activity patterns. The orexin/hypocretin neurons are stimulated by amino acids, but inhibited by glucose, revealing a complex 'push-pull' control by sugars and proteins.
A new study from the University of Cambridge found that amino acids, found in proteins like egg whites, stimulate orexin neurons more than other nutrients. This discovery has implications for understanding obesity and sleep disorders.
Scientists at the University of Georgia have developed a new method to create neural crest cells, precursors of bone cells, smooth muscle cells, and neurons, using a single-step process that reduces production time by half. The method uses small molecules to activate specific signaling pathways, increasing consistency and reducing costs.
Researchers found that TDP-43 binds to NF-kB p65 in spinal cords of ALS patients, promoting inflammation and killing neurons. Treatment with an agent blocking p65 activity eased disease symptoms in a mouse model.
Researchers at Whitehead Institute and MIT have developed a novel surface that enables tripling of human embryonic stem and induced pluripotent stem cell growth in culture. This breakthrough eliminates the need for mouse feeder cells, reducing contamination risks and increasing efficiency.
Researchers at RIKEN Brain Science Institute discovered a key mechanism for degrading ubiquitinated protein aggregates in brain cells. This process is mediated by the phosphorylation of p62, which triggers selective autophagy and degradation of protein aggregates.
Researchers discovered that crocin in saffron exerts protective effects on brain cells and prevented damage in models of MS. The study also found a link between an ancient virus and cell stress leading to inflammation in the disease.
A study led by Johns Hopkins behavioral neuroscientist Eric Fortune found that the brain prefers cooperative activity over solo ones, as demonstrated in plain-tailed wrens' duet songs. The research has implications for programming autonomous robots and understanding human social behavior.
A new study by Rutgers neuroscientist Bonnie Firestein suggests that increased production of protein cypin may prevent long-term brain damage after a stroke. Cypin helps nerve cells survive, while excessive PSD-95 accelerates cell destruction and inhibits recovery.
Researchers have discovered that a mutation in the CLN3 gene disrupts protein trafficking, leading to lysosome overflow and neuronal death in Batten disease. The findings may form the basis for a new therapy by targeting the kinase function of CLN3.
Researchers at Gladstone Institutes discovered a protein form linked to Huntington's disease that influences symptom timing and severity. The study offers new avenues for treating not only Huntington's but also similar conditions like Alzheimer's and type 1 diabetes.
A recent brain imaging study using lucid dreaming has linked neural activity to specific body motions in dreams. The study offers a promising approach towards 'dream reading' by analyzing patterns of brain activity.
Scientists have determined that master transcription factors control gene expression in response to signaling pathways, tailoring cell state and function. This discovery sheds light on disease mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets.
A potential new drug target has been discovered to stop debilitating effects of MS by preventing brain cell death caused by granzyme B. The target is the M6PR receptor, which allows granzyme B to enter neurons and wreak havoc.
A new brain stimulation technique has been developed that makes real-time adjustments in response to Parkinson's disease dynamics, potentially improving symptoms. The study found that this approach alleviated motor symptoms and reduced abnormal neural activity more efficiently than standard deep brain stimulation.
Researchers developed a method to optimize ion channel activity, reversing abnormal neuronal function and pathology in epilepsy. The study suggests this approach may be useful for other brain diseases and organs with excitable cells.
A protein that promotes neuron growth and blood vessel formation appears to halt brain degeneration in a genetic disease, according to Northwestern University research published in Nature Medicine. The study suggests a link between aging and the development of spinocerebellar ataxia type 1, a disease causing cerebellum degeneration.
Scientists at the University of Rochester Medical Center have improved upon their previous efforts to isolate stem cells for treating multiple sclerosis and rare childhood diseases. The new method resulted in a four-fold increase in myelin coating, making these cells promising candidates for future clinical trials.
Researchers developed a new method for reprogramming human cells into stem cells, increasing efficiency by 100-fold and producing high-quality cells faster. This breakthrough has potential applications in medicine, such as organ replacement, bone replacement, and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
Neural signals related to reinforcement and punishment are widely distributed throughout the entire human brain, challenging previous notions of specialized brain structures. The study's findings suggest that both positive and negative outcomes directly influence neural processing, with adaptive value for optimizing cognitive processes.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have developed a patented MRI technology that allows them to non-invasively track neural stem cells in living brains. This breakthrough could inform the development of new treatments for brain injuries, stroke, Parkinson's disease, and other neurological disorders.
Researchers identified a new pathway of stem cell activity in the subventricular zone of the human brain, which targets the prefrontal cortex in newborns. This discovery challenges previous reports that suggested neural stem cells remain active into adulthood.
A new human genetic mutation, C9ORF72 repeat expansion, is identified as the most common cause of ALS and frontotemporal dementia. This mutation explains at least a third of all familial cases in Europeans and nearly half of all cases in Finland.
A team of researchers at McGill University developed a new device that can float over cell surfaces without touching them, allowing for the study of cellular processes such as cancer cell formation and neuron alignment. The device uses quadrupoles to create force fields and deliver molecules selectively to cells.