Articles tagged with Neurons
Scientists from the University of Florida have found that ordinary human brain cells can generate new brain tissue in mice and produce large amounts of new brain cells in culture. This discovery could potentially be used to fight Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, stroke, and other brain disorders.
Scientists studying the brains of flies, moths, and cuttlefish have made discoveries about the mechanics of how the brain regulates behavior. Researchers have identified specific brain chemicals and regions that allow for rapid color changes in cuttlefish, similar to the human motor cortex.
A team of researchers at the California Institute of Technology has identified a specific region in the brain responsible for processing risk and reward, known as the 'gambling circuitry'. This discovery could help understand abnormal risk-taking behavior in disorders such as addiction and bipolar disorder.
A research team from Massachusetts General Hospital has discovered a potential drug target for Huntington's disease by identifying a novel inhibitor of Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP1). PARP1 inhibitors can protect HD-affected cells from damage and energy depletion in laboratory assays.
Researchers identified a new disorder called enteric anendocrinosis caused by a mutation in the Neurogenin-3 gene. Patients with this condition develop type I diabetes and have abnormally low endocrine cells in their intestine, leading to severe malnutrition and growth failure.
Researchers have identified key components in the molecular mechanism of serotonin's action on appetite regulation. Serotonin and drugs that affect its action act on neurons to reduce AgRP release and increase αMSH levels, disrupting function of melanocortin receptors.
Researchers from the UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute have found significantly fewer neurons in the amygdala of males with autism, a key brain region responsible for emotional responses and social learning. The study provides new insights into the neuroanatomical basis of autism, which may help advance research into this lifelong neurodevel...
A Rice University study has identified the complexin protein as a brake that shortens response time for signal transmission in nerve cells, enabling nearly instantaneous passing of information. This breakthrough sheds light on the mechanisms behind rapid neural signaling.
The brain's craving for a fix motivates humans to absorb knowledge at an optimal rate, driven by the release of natural opiates. This theory, proposed by USC Professor Irving Biederman, suggests that knowledge addiction has strong evolutionary value due to its correlation with perceived intelligence.
Researchers found that women's brains responded with stronger electrical activity when viewing erotic images than non-erotic content, regardless of its pleasantness or disturbance level. The study suggests that the brain processes erotic material differently, potentially due to evolutionary factors.
A study found that urocortin I impairs glucose-sensing neurons, leading to prolonged hypoglycemic responses. The regulation of the counterregulatory response is largely determined by CRFR2-mediated suppression and CRFR1-mediated activation in the hypothalamus.
Scientists at the University of Manchester have identified a previously unknown mechanism by which glucose blocks brain cells responsible for regulating wakefulness. This finding has implications for understanding and treating disorders such as narcolepsy, obesity, and addiction.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School have defined a molecular signaling pathway linking oxidative stress to cell death in brain neurons. The discovery of the MST-FOXO biochemical switch mechanism may provide potential new targets for the diagnosis and treatment of age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's.
A new mechanism explains how glucose inhibits neurons that regulate wakefulness, revealing a role for previously unknown potassium ion channels. Glucose levels affect the firing rate of these neurons, shedding light on cellular pathways regulating vigilance states and energy balance.
The Salk Institute research found that humans have neurons selective for gender based on motion cues, which adjust their selectivity on the fly. This mechanism allows humans to adapt quickly to local gait patterns, reflecting inherent differences in shape and movement.
Researchers have discovered that astrocytes become activated when their whiskers are stimulated, sending signals to the brain. This finding challenges the long-held assumption that astrocytes don't communicate much and suggests they may be part of everyday brain function.
Researchers have identified the specific step in the neurogenesis pathway that Prozac (fluoxetine) stimulates, increasing the number of neurons in the brain. The study's findings lay the foundation for future cell replacement therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.
Researchers have discovered a new compound that specifically targets FKBP38 receptor, reducing programmed cell death in neuronal cells. The compound protects neurons and promotes neural stem cell proliferation, offering potential therapeutic application for stroke and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Researchers have discovered that neurons can produce a key protein linked to Alzheimer's disease under certain conditions. The study uses a unique mouse model to show that apoE production is regulated by the brain's response to injury, shedding light on the mechanisms underlying this complex disorder.
Dr. McCluskey receives the Ajinomoto Award for Young Investigators in Gustation for her work on taste bud regeneration and its relation to the immune system. She aims to understand how macrophages, a type of immune cell, affect neural function in injured nerves.
A study by Harvard Medical School researchers identifies specific neurons in the orbitofrontal cortex that assign values to different goods. This discovery sheds light on choice deficit disorders such as eating disorders and compulsive gambling.
Researchers at Princeton University discovered that retinal ganglion cells organize their actions based on pair interactions rather than group discussions. This finding could shed light on how brain cells work together to make decisions.
Researchers confirm ventral word-form area's causal role in recognizing words by studying a patient whose surgery disrupted the region. The patient showed impaired reading skills but retained object recognition and naming abilities.
Researchers discovered a new mechanism in nerve cells that enables them to filter and transfer signals rapidly, contrary to the traditional Hodgkin-Huxley model. This allows for high precision in transmitting fast-changing signals while ignoring slowly varying stimuli.
Researchers find that growth factor SCF promotes tumor angiogenesis by interacting with normal neurons, leading to worsened prognosis in patients. Decreased SCF expression improves survival in mouse glioma models, highlighting the importance of considering normal cells in cancer treatment.
In a study on Huntington disease, researchers found that cystamine increased brain levels of protective protein HSJ1b and BDNF, suggesting a promising candidate for treatment. The study also revealed that cystamine raises BDNF in an HSJ1b-dependent manner.
A new study published in Neuron suggests that facial recognition relies on a similar neural mechanism as other object recognition, rather than specialized processing. The researchers used computational modeling and fMRI to find that a small group of neurons in the fusiform face area is highly selective for different faces.
Researchers propose a theory that the fusiform face area (FFA) recognizes faces based on selective processing of shapes of facial features. Their computational model and experimental studies support this idea, suggesting that face recognition can be achieved by hierarchical shape detectors.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis used a network of interconnected pendulums to demonstrate that introducing disorder can lead to order and synchronization in chaotic systems. The findings have potential applications in understanding neuronal activity and may help explain previously unexplained observations.
Research findings clarify microglia's induction and blockage of oligodendrogenesis in MS, shedding light on disease mechanisms. The study highlights the complex interplay between microglial activation and oligodendrogenesis in MS.
Researchers found that serotonin levels in pacemaker cells are crucial for gasping and auto-resuscitation in babies. Disturbed serotonin levels can lead to a decrease in gasping, making it difficult for the baby to wake up and initiate movement.
A mutation in the EAAT2 gene, which regulates glutamate levels in the brain, is associated with elevated plasma glutamate and increased risk of post-stroke neurological problems. Stroke patients with the mutated allele had higher plasma glutamate levels and more severe neurological outcomes than those with the normal allele.
Scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine have created a detailed map of the lateral wall of the subventricle zone, suggesting the potential existence of human brain stem cells. The discovery also reveals displaced ependymal cells that may be related to cancer or neurodegenerative diseases.
Researchers found that adding neurotrophins to human embryonic stem cells increases cell survival by 36-fold. This discovery could enable mass production of stem cells for disease treatment and prevent tumor formation.
A subset of brain cells with pacemaking abilities has been identified as essential for gasping in infants, resolving a 15-year-old controversy. The discovery highlights the importance of autoresuscitation and gasping in maintaining oxygen supplies and heart rate during critical low-oxygen conditions.
Researchers at UF identified neural crest cells as the source of sharks' electrical ESP, a previously unknown function. This discovery fortifies the idea that early ancestors may have had the ability to detect electric fields.
Dr. Liu has discovered a mechanism underlying immune system modulation of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and will optimize therapy using NKT cells. The Muscular Dystrophy Association fellowship award supports her three-year research project.
New research reveals that blackcurrants' anthocyanins and polyphenolics have a protective effect against Alzheimer's disease in cultured neuronal cells. The effects are likely to be reproduced in the human body, potentially preventing or delaying the onset of the disease.
A team of researchers at Johns Hopkins University has discovered that neurons in the brain's visual center respond to different components of a shape and fit them together like a puzzle to create an image. The brain constructs an internal representation of an object from disparate pieces, allowing for quick recognition of objects.
Researchers have discovered a new key area in the brain that responds to the fat hormone leptin, which plays a crucial role in resisting high-fat-diet-induced obesity. The ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) region, previously thought to only be involved in appetite regulation, was found to also respond to leptin and is essential for maint...
Researchers have identified a genetic mutation in the calnexin gene that can lead to degenerative blindness, providing new insights into retinal degeneration. The study's findings may one day enable doctors to deliver tailored treatments to patients with specific calnexin mutations.
A study published in Nature reveals that a molecular mechanism directs cells to migrate to the correct location within the developing neural tube of vertebrates. The research, conducted by Mount Sinai School of Medicine, identifies specific molecules involved in restoring polarity and guiding cell migration.
Researchers found that the loss of caspase-8 protein promotes neuroblastoma metastasis by allowing cancer cells to break away from the primary tumor and spread to other sites in the body. Novel treatments that restore the tumor-suppression role of caspase-8 may prevent metastases and improve patient outcomes.
Researchers at UCSD develop mouse model for lissencephaly, a severe brain disorder in newborn children. The study shows that removing two genes from the mouse replicates human lissencephaly features, shedding light on the condition's causes and potential treatment.
A study published in Neuron found that the CB1 receptor is integrated with leptin signaling to control appetite, with implications for obesity treatment. Blocking CB1 receptors may offer a promising approach to treating obesity, and recent antiobesity drugs like rimonabant may also work by reducing endocannabinoid signaling.
Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have developed an antibody therapy that successfully targets and kills cancer cells in laboratory models of neuroblastoma. The treatment, which combines antibodies with immune system cells, has shown promise for treating low initial tumor levels or small cancer cell populations.
The study proposes a novel model of neural circuitry that fine-tunes behavior through feedback inhibition, potentially explaining regulatory mechanisms like temperature control and satiety. This framework provides a new tool for exploring working memory complexities and understanding mental health and disease.
Researchers introduce a modified form of ChR2 in C. elegans neurons and muscle cells, allowing blue-light activation to trigger strong contraction and backing behavior. Electrophysiological experiments confirm the effects are due to ion flow caused by light exposure.
Scientists have engineered human brain progenitor cells to produce a growth factor that has shown clinical promise for treating Parkinson's disease. The cells were transplanted into rats and monkeys, delivering the drug where it is needed, promoting nerve fiber growth and improving survival of defective cells.
Researchers found that specific fragments of the apoE4 protein are neurotoxic and accumulate in mitochondria, leading to neuronal death characteristic of Alzheimer's disease. Blocking interaction of these fragments with mitochondria may be a potential new strategy for inhibiting detrimental effects.
Researchers evaluated the effect of unilateral implantation of human RPE cells attached to gelatin microcarriers in six patients with advanced Parkinson disease. The study showed a 48% average improvement in motor symptoms at 12 months, sustained through 24 months, with no off-state dyskinesias observed.
Researchers estimated that 150 blood group compatible donors, 100 O donors, or ten highly selected donors could provide maximum benefit for HLA matching. The study aims to establish a hESC bank with sufficient HLA diversity for the UK population.
A memory trace is formed in a pair of neurons called the dorsal pair medial neurons, but only 30 minutes after the fact and through the mediation of a gene called amnesiac. The change can last about two hours, challenging the common-held precept that memories are stored in the same place.
Researchers found that BPA can mimic estrogen's actions in developing neurons, leading to potential harm to the brain. The study suggests that even low concentrations of BPA may be hazardous, as they are comparable to human fetal exposures and water supply levels.
Research reveals a novel role of serotonin transporters in controlling left-right asymmetry, with implications for embryonic development and potential side effects of certain antidepressant medications. The study also highlights the importance of dynamic serotonin movement within cells.
Researchers found that progressive loss of two types of hypothalamic neurons, Pomc and Agrp, leads to altered food intake patterns in mice. This discovery provides a potentially informative model for studying human age-related obesity and the regulation of energy homeostasis.
Researchers discovered that disrupting p53 activity in neurons extends lifespan and increases stress resistance in adult fruit flies. The study suggests that targeting p53 activity in different cell types may offer a way to prevent tumors while preserving healthy aging.
Researchers at Brown University have discovered that reducing p53 protein activity in neurons can increase lifespan in fruit flies by 58%, a finding that suggests a potential mechanism for slowing aging through the caloric restriction pathway.
Researchers at EMBL and universities in Heidelberg and Ulm found that blocking a specific signal within brain cells may help prevent cell death after a stroke. The study suggests new therapies could be developed by controlling a molecule involved in passing the signal.
A new perspective on cortical development suggests that genetic and environmental factors interact to shape brain regions. Researchers, led by Mriganka Sur, have discovered that transcription factors play a key role in controlling cell growth and connectivity during early prenatal development.