Research on nerve cells and the circuits they form. Covers neural mapping, brain development, the striatum, and single-neuron recording.
A Dutch study found that long-term ecstasy use is associated with brain-cell damage in women, particularly in serotonin neurons. The effects of moderate ecstasy use on these neurons have not been studied, highlighting the need for further research.
Researchers at Stanford and Caltech have made a breakthrough in neural prosthetics, demonstrating that electrical signals from the parietal reach region can control movement and planning. The study enabled a monkey to control a cursor with its thoughts, paving the way for potential applications in helping severely paralyzed patients.
A study published in Molecular Psychiatry found that maternal separation causes the death of brain cells. However, researchers discovered that fluoxetine, a type of Prozac, can reverse these changes and promote cell growth in the dentate gyrus of rats.
The amyloid beta protein found in plaques stimulates the production of toxic substances that attract new surrounding cells, causing brain cell death. Astrocytes, normally involved in maintaining brain structure, slow down these processes and protect against inflammation.
Researchers create self-assembled nanofibers resembling collagen fibrils in real bone, enabling mineralization and promoting cell attachment. The synthetic nanofibers offer potential applications in bone fractures, tissue regeneration, and electronics.
Researchers at UCLA's Jonsson Cancer Center have discovered the PTEN gene's role in regulating brain stem cells, finding that its absence disrupts normal growth and proliferation. The study suggests that PTEN is a critical regulator of brain stem cell behavior, which may contribute to tumor formation.
Researchers at UCSD suggest that naturally occurring molecules called beta-synucleins (b-synucleins) may inhibit the excessive accumulation of Lewy bodies, which are characteristic of Parkinson's disease. In mice studies, b-synuclein was shown to block the formation of these abnormal deposits.
Researchers at UT Southwestern discovered that traumatic brain injuries trigger a rapid and prolonged regeneration of neurons in mice, with long-term effects even in distant areas. This study suggests the potential to develop new treatments using adult stem cells to enhance injured brain capabilities.
A new study published in the Journal of Neurosurgery found that mild head injuries can cause permanent damage to the brain, with effects not felt for months. The research suggests that repetitive head injuries may be a factor in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.
Researchers have identified a novel mechanism for activating G-proteins without external stimulation, which supports cellular polarity in asymmetrically dividing cells. This discovery has significant implications for understanding disease mechanisms and developing novel therapies.
A recent Mayo Clinic study suggests that the full-length mutant protein is responsible for toxicity in Huntington's disease, challenging traditional theories of clip-and-release. This new understanding may lead to more effective therapies by targeting the aberrant interactions of the mutant protein.
Scientists have produced new adult neurons from precursor cells using a growth factor, which could potentially treat neurological diseases. The technique, supported by the NIH, involves introducing brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) into the adult rat brain.
A new test measuring visual field responses to discordant images has provided clues about the brain activity underlying visual consciousness. The researchers found that binocular rivalry occurs at a lower level in the visual cortex, specifically in the primary visual cortex.
Researchers identified a small group of neurons responsible for issuing breathing commands within the preBotzinger Complex. Destroying these neurons in rats resulted in irregular breathing patterns and impaired oxygen control, suggesting they hold underlying causes of breathing disorders.
Researchers have found that aging rats exhibit fragmented behavioral rhythms, taking naps when they should be active. The study suggests that the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) cells, responsible for regulating circadian rhythms, may be losing their ability to mark time as individuals age.
Scientists at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have identified a protein that clears viruses from neurons in the spinal cord and brain stem but not those in the cerebral cortex. The study suggests that different combinations of antibody and T-cell immunity may be needed to control infection and recovery from encephalitis.
Scientists found that weakening cell death signal and blocking engulfment increases cell survival rates, with some cells surviving outright. This finding suggests modulating engulfment machinery could be an effective therapy for neurodegenerative diseases, stroke, and cancer.
A recent study by Ohio State University researchers found that a chemical called tumor necrosis factor (TNF) directly stimulates the brain's digestive control center, causing nausea and vomiting. Elevated TNF levels can lead to long-term changes in digestion function, resulting in persistent symptoms.
A new imaging technique reveals disrupted microcolumns in brains affected by Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia, suggesting a link between microcolumn organization and cognitive impairment. The study found that the absence of microcolumns correlates with the number of fibrillary tangles, but not senile neuritic plaques.
Scientists have relieved pain in rats by dispatching molecular 'smart bombs' to selectively destroy certain nerve cells in the spinal cord, targeting faulty signaling by a small group of neurons. This approach targets just those nerve cells that send pain messages to the brain without causing side effects like morphine or surgery.
Phyllis I. Hanson, a researcher at Washington University School of Medicine, has been awarded a Keck Foundation grant to study the molecular machinery that neurons use to communicate. Her work may one day suggest treatments for neuromuscular and psychiatric disorders resulting from faulty communication between neurons.
Researchers from the University of Iowa have identified a feedback loop mechanism that could explain the prolonged nature of migraines. The discovery reveals that inflammatory agents released during a migraine stimulate certain neurons to increase calcitonin gene-related peptides (CGRP) secretion, leading to persistent pain.
Neuroscientist Michela Gallagher's research reveals that cognitive decline in old age is not caused by dying brain cells, but rather by the natural aging process. The study used rat models to show that neuron losses are confined to populations of cells with limited memory function.
Researchers discovered that trace amounts of nicotine can raise blood pressure in an animal model by releasing the neurotransmitter lutenizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH). The study suggests that even small doses of nicotine may cause short-term high blood pressure and potentially hypertension in humans.
Researchers discovered a protein sensitive to chemical stimuli and tissue-damaging levels of heat, identifying capsaicin as the key player. The cloned gene enables large-scale production of the protein, paving the way for potential pain-controlling drugs.
Scientists have discovered a common mechanism underlying neurodegenerative diseases, where mutant proteins accumulate in nuclear spaces, recruiting normal proteins and disrupting cellular processes. This finding suggests a single disease mechanism may be responsible for several afflictions.
Researchers at Caltech found that the brain uses temporal activity patterns of neurons to represent odors, with specificity arising from considerations of their timing. This coding principle may be common to most animals, including humans, and could have implications for understanding odor perception.
A groundbreaking study reveals that brain cells belong to multiple groups and change their affiliation according to the task, coordinating processes involved in vision, hearing, and movement control. This finding has implications for neurology and computer science.