Research on nerve cells and the circuits they form. Covers neural mapping, brain development, the striatum, and single-neuron recording.
Researchers at ISTA developed a novel 'Flash and Freeze-fracture' technique to analyze brain region communication. The method reveals that neurons in the medial habenula exhibit unusual behavior, contradicting general understanding, and provides insights into protein localization and synapse strengthening.
A new study reveals that Agent Orange damages frontal lobe brain tissue in laboratory rats, causing molecular and biochemical abnormalities similar to early-stage Alzheimer's disease. This research has important implications for the long-term brain health of aging veterans and people exposed to biologically similar herbicides.
A new study published in eNeuro explores the intricate interplay between brain regions involved in nicotine's effects on the human brain. Researchers discovered that the medial habenula experiences fluctuations in activity based on factors such as dosage and sex, highlighting a nuanced relationship.
A research team has discovered a novel mechanism by which stress affects the brain, revealing a potential new pathway for treating depression. Stress increases the production of MMP-8, an enzyme that alters neuron function and leads to behavioral changes.
A team of neuroscientists has discovered that oligodendrocytes, myelin-forming cells, accelerate glucose consumption to deliver energy-rich molecules to rapidly firing axons. This communication is mediated by potassium signals and maintains axonal health.
Researchers have identified two distinct brain regions involved in regulating salt and water intake, which can help prevent excessive consumption. The parabrachial nucleus plays a crucial role in feedback mechanisms that reduce thirst and salt appetite after ingesting water or salt.
A team of researchers from Harvard and Texas developed a soft implantable device with dozens of sensors to record single-neuron activity stably for months. The device uses fluorinated elastomers and is 10,000 times softer than conventional flexible probes.
Researchers developed a new technology to track when brain cells shut off, providing insights into normal brain function and diseases like depression and Alzheimer's. The technique identifies a protein called pyruvate dehydrogenase that is rapidly changed immediately after brain cells are inhibited.
A NTU Singapore study found that ageing alters brain cells' communication, leading to weakening connections and poorer memory in middle-aged mice. The research suggests strengthening these connections through memory training may delay age-related working memory decline.
Researchers at Northwestern University have discovered that toxic short RNAs contribute to neuron death and DNA damage in Alzheimer's disease. Studies found that older individuals with superior memories have higher amounts of protective short RNA strands in their brains.
Researchers at Washington State University discovered that cannabis activates a set of cells in the hypothalamus, promoting appetite in mice. The study used calcium imaging technology to determine how brain cells responded to vaporized cannabis sativa.
Researchers have identified the role of OXR1 in maintaining retromer function, which protects neurons from oxidative damage. Boosting this gene's expression may help extend human lifespan. The study provides potential therapeutic targets to slow brain aging and age-related neurodegenerative diseases.
Researchers have discovered a brain circuit that mediates panic disorder, consisting of specialized neurons that send and receive the neuropeptide PACAP. Inhibiting PACAP signaling reduces panic symptoms, offering promising findings for future treatments.
Researchers discovered novel functions for autophagy genes in controlling different forms of cellular disposal, including misfolded proteins. In nematode C. elegans, inhibition of early-acting autophagy genes extended lifespan and reduced protein aggregates, highlighting a new pathway in aging.
A new study has identified a neural coding mechanism that allows for the transfer of information between perceptual and memory regions of the brain. This discovery challenges traditional understanding of brain organization and suggests that memory areas encode visual information in a 'photographic negative' format.
Neuronal activity stimulates gene expression in human brain cells by influencing transcription factors and chromatin modifiers, particularly CREB and CBP. The interaction between CREB and DNA requires prior acetylation mediated by CBP to activate gene expression.
Researchers found that kisspeptin neurons with dynorphin receptors are crucial for hormone secretion and ovulation. The study provides new insights into the central mechanism underlying reproduction and may lead to treatment of ovarian disorders.
Researchers found that inhibitory neurons in the entorhinal cortex continue to migrate and build new connections until age two, contributing to neuroplasticity periods and potential susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers at the University of Virginia Health System discovered that tau proteins damage brain cells by warping their nuclei, altering gene function and increasing tau production. This finding could lead to new treatments for Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies.
Researchers develop a versatile imaging system for targeted spectroscopy in the eye fundus, allowing for continuous color imaging and spectral measurements. The system enables users to select targets and move them to any location within the eye fundus region without realignment or fixation changes.
Researchers at Salk Institute assembled the most complete atlas of the mouse brain by analyzing over 2 million brain cells. The detailed atlas reveals thousands of cell types, their connections, genes, and regulatory programs active in each cell, providing new insights into human disease vulnerabilities.
Researchers created a comprehensive map of the mouse brain using artificial intelligence and analyzed over 2.3 million individual brain cells. The findings help understand how genes are switched on and off to form different cell types, shedding light on human diseases like multiple sclerosis and neuropsychiatric disorders.
A study published in Nature Communications sheds light on the critical role of P4-ATPases, particularly ATP8B1-CDC50A, in maintaining lipid asymmetry in cell membranes. The research team used cryo-electron microscopy to determine the structure and function of the human flippase complex, revealing its regulation by phosphoinositides.
A recent study published in Nature Communications has identified a key brain molecule responsible for triggering overconsumption of comfort foods after stressful events. The lateral hypothalamic proenkephalin neuron plays a crucial role in driving threat-induced eating associated with negative emotional states.
A new study reveals that female fruit flies exhibit states of persistent aggression, similar to human anger, and identify cell types contributing to this behavior. The researchers found that a specific cell type, aIPg, can cause flies to remain angry for up to 10 minutes, but other factors may also be involved.
Neurons in the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC) work together to process social interactions by combining facial and vocal information. The study found that individual neurons did not exhibit strong responses to expressions or identities, but population-level activity could be decoded to reveal the identity and expression in vid...
Researchers at University of California - San Francisco find that sense of taste signals brain to slow down eating. Using advanced techniques, they recorded brain activity in awake mice and found PRLH neurons controlled by mouth signals when eating normally, not gut signals as previously thought.
Researchers at Michigan State University found that glial cells in the gut can sensitize nearby neurons, causing them to send pain signals more easily during inflammation. This discovery could help develop new therapies to alleviate visceral pain by counteracting the glia's sensitizing efforts.
Researchers at University College London found that a hunger hormone produced in the gut directly impacts activity of the brain's hippocampus when considering food. The study showed that ghrelin receptors play a crucial role in controlling an animal's instinct to eat, with implications for understanding eating disorders and human health.
A team of neuroscientists and physicists at Princeton University studied the brain of Caenorhabditis elegans to understand how information flows through a network of interacting neurons. They used optogenetics to activate individual neurons and observe how other neurons responded, shedding light on the complex neural connections.
A team of scientists discovered two types of neurons in fruit flies and mice that enable them to identify distinct smells. With experience, these animals can learn to differentiate between very similar odors, a process that could improve machine-learning models and AI systems.
Researchers discovered that D. sechellia's nervous system has evolved to tolerate the toxins in noni fatty acids, allowing it to prefer and lay eggs on the fruit. The study reveals differences in taste sensitivities among three closely related fly species, providing insights into how insects adapt to host plants.
A research team has developed a new method for mapping brain activity to understand behavior changes in patients with neurological disease. The technique uses CaMPARI images to track brain activity and can be used to study the effects of Alzheimer's disease on brain function.
Researchers develop TrackerSci to track newborn brain cells' growth and maturity. The study reveals radical shifts in cell types depending on age, with neurons and glial cells declining in elderly brains.
A study in mice finds that two proteins, MAP6 and Kv3.1, interact to control movement, memory, and anxiety. Disrupting this interaction can lead to behavioral changes, including hyperactivity and impaired memory, highlighting potential new targets for schizophrenia treatment.
Researchers at Kyushu University have successfully converted brain immune cells into neurons, which restored brain function after a stroke-like injury in mice. The findings suggest that replenishing neurons from immune cells could be a promising avenue for treating stroke in humans.
Scientists at University of California San Diego School of Medicine identified a new biomarker using single-cell RNA sequencing, which can predict whether neurons will regenerate after an injury. The study found that the biomarker was consistently reliable across various parts of the nervous system and developmental stages.
Two parallel projects publish detailed cell atlases of the adult human brain and brain development, revealing over 3,000 cell types, including new insights into brain diseases and potential therapeutic targets. The freely available brain atlases will enable researchers to compare healthy brains with diseased ones.
Researchers assembled an atlas of hundreds of cell types that make up a human brain in unprecedented detail. The study uses techniques originally developed for mice to identify brain cell subtypes in human brains.
Researchers created a unique, cell-by-cell atlas of the amygdala to identify potential new treatments for cocaine addiction. The study revealed connections between addiction behaviors and genes involved in energy metabolism, offering a brand-new way of thinking about the molecular biology of cocaine addiction.
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have shown that graphene oxide nanoflakes can reduce the accumulation of misfolded amyloid peptides in yeast cells, which are similar to human neurons affected by Alzheimer's disease. This suggests that graphene oxide may hold great potential for treating neurodegenerative diseases.
Rice University bioengineers Jerzy Szablowski and Julea Vlassakis have received the National Institutes of Health Director’s New Innovator Award for their creative research projects on gene expression and cancer interactions. Szablowski is developing noninvasive methods to map gene expression, while Vlassakis is studying complex single...
A single neuron in C. elegans worm uses multiple neurotransmitters to control egg-laying and locomotion, demonstrating the ability to 'borrow' serotonin from other neurons. The study reveals how a single neuron can influence complex behaviors over multiple timescales.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a non-invasive gene delivery technique using ultrasound to efficiently deliver clinically used gene therapy vectors throughout the brain. The study, published in Gene Therapy, shows that opening more sites within targeted regions improves gene delivery efficiency.
The University of Minnesota Medical School has received a $16 million grant from the NIH BRAIN Initiative to create detailed maps of brain connections. This project aims to better understand how complex neural pathways generate human behaviors and develop treatments for brain disorders.
Scientists have identified a long non-coding RNA called SNHG8 that plays a crucial role in the development of toxic protein tangles in brain diseases like Alzheimer's. Replacing this RNA can prevent stress granule formation, which contributes to tau aggregation and brain damage.
Researchers found that beta-blockers can revive exhausted killer T cells, making them better cancer fighters. The study discovered a link between the sympathetic stress response and immune system response to cancer.
A cluster of neurons in the fruit fly brain transforms memories about past rewards into actions, guiding the fly's navigation. The UpWiNs also send signals to dopaminergic neurons for higher-order learning, shedding light on parallel neural circuit mechanisms.
Researchers found that specialized placozoan cells share similarities with neurons and may have given rise to them in more complex animals. The study sheds light on the evolution of neurons, focusing on the unique characteristics of these ancient creatures.
A group of experts has developed a framework to research and apply brain-cell-based computer technology responsibly. The technology has significant promise for accelerating disease understanding but raises questions about the moral status of bio-computers.
A new study led by Dr. Armen Saghatelyan uncovered the migratory mechanisms of neuronal cells in a neurodevelopmental disorder. The team found that modulating autophagy with FDA-approved drug metformin restored the cells' migratory properties.
Fruit fly research suggests visual system is involved in regulating social behaviors, which could have implications for understanding human psychiatric conditions such as autism and schizophrenia. Altering GABA signaling in the brain affects social inhibitions, leading to increased courtship behavior in males.
A recent study found that activating astrocytes in the basal forebrain can keep mice awake for hours without affecting their sleep need or intensity. The researchers hope to develop interventions targeting these cells to improve productivity and health of shift workers and others who work long hours.
A Penn State-led research team discovered that somatostatin signaling acts to dampen communication among cell types in the prefrontal cortex, promoting exploratory and risk-taking-like behavior. The findings suggest that somatostatin fine-tunes circuits to promote certain behaviors, including decision making.
Researchers at CityU and HKUMed developed genetically modified human neural stem cells that promote neural circuit reconstruction, reduce glial scar accumulation, and enhance axon outgrowth. The therapy demonstrates potential for treating severe spinal cord injuries with functional recovery.
Researchers from Tokyo Medical and Dental University discovered a new mechanism that stimulates brain-autonomous neural repair after ischemic stroke by secreting lipids. The mechanism involves PLA2G2E, which increases dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA) levels, promoting inflammation reduction and neuronal repair.
Embryos orchestrate complex tasks by temporarily relocating neurons to create space for incoming progenitor cells, ensuring harmonious organ development. This study's findings have implications beyond retinal development and may shed light on human developmental disorders.
Researchers used a mathematical theory called the free energy principle to predict how real neural networks learn and organize themselves. The study successfully mimicked this process in rat embryo neurons grown in a culture dish, demonstrating the principle's guiding force behind biological neural network learning.
Researchers identified new cell types in the developing fly's visual system using a tool that combines single-cell sequencing data with a novel algorithm. This discovery could provide exceptional tools for neuroscience to investigate developmental questions with high precision.
Researchers have discovered a group of nerve cells in the midbrain that can completely stop all forms of movement and slow down breathing and heart rate when stimulated. The study provides valuable insight into how the nervous system controls movement and may help understand Parkinson's disease.