Articles tagged with Sensory Neurons
Researchers at Washington University found that neurons in the primary visual cortex exhibit 'drift' over time, changing their responses to the same stimulus even without learning or experience. This discovery challenges the notion of stable neural activity in sensory cortices.
Researchers at the University of Bonn identified a genetic program in fruit flies that controls neuron development and protection. The program, which involves the WNK gene, has similar functions in humans and may hold the key to understanding and treating neurodegenerative diseases.
A new study from Northwestern University found that primary touch-sensitive neurons respond to multiple types of touch and varying degrees. Researchers developed a comprehensive technique to stimulate rats' whiskers in three dimensions while recording brain activity, revealing that these neurons communicate touch in a more complex manner.
Researchers used genetically engineered mice to study the AgRP hunger neurons, finding that fasting activates these cells, while food cues inhibit their activity. The team discovered that the aversive feeling caused by hunger enhances learning, making dieting difficult due to this persistent sensation.
Researchers trained a blind individual to recognize objects using soundscapes, revealing novel topographic maps in the brain. This finding sheds light on the brain's ability for change and holds promise for helping people restore lost function after a stroke.
Researchers have identified a population of neurons in the brain's temporal pole region that collectively remembers familiar faces, including those of loved ones. This discovery sheds new light on how our brains process and remember faces, with potential implications for understanding conditions like prosopagnosia.
A team of neuroscientists at the Beckman Institute discovered a new neuronal circuit that selects sensory information relayed to the auditory cortex. The study reveals a 'non-linear response' mechanism, allowing humans to focus on specific sensory inputs.
Researchers found that undamaged neurons do not change their function after a stroke, contradicting the 're-mapping' hypothesis. Surround-responsive cells, which react to neighboring whiskers, also failed to take over damaged neurons' functions.
A study published in Cell identified specific nerve cells and proteins that trigger the sneeze reflex, which may lead to new treatments for infectious respiratory diseases. The researchers found that stimulating these cells with a molecule called neuromedin B could induce sneezing, even without exposure to allergens or viruses.
Researchers found that HVC neurons increase activity during solo syllable production and decrease when the partner sings, suggesting inhibition of motor circuits. This neural mechanism enables rapid turn-taking in duet singing, where males and females rapidly take turns singing at a rate of 2 to 5 Hz.
Studies show distinct neuron populations control itching in hairy and hairless skin, offering hope for targeted therapies. Researchers aim to develop treatments that block itch-inducing neurons, improving quality of life for patients with chronic skin itch conditions.
Researchers found that fly brains use prediction to guide behavior, making them more efficient in evading predators. The visual system uses an information bottleneck to filter out unnecessary sensory data and preserve necessary information for predictions.
Researchers have identified two subtypes of POMC neurons with distinct hormone sensing and appetite suppression profiles. The findings suggest that the diversity of these neurons is crucial for their function in regulating metabolism.
Researchers at TU Wien simulate single-celled organism movement using artificial intelligence and a physical model, revealing how it achieves chemotaxis despite lacking a nervous system. The virtual organism learns to direct its movement through a simple control network, similar to biological evolution.
Salk researchers have traced the development of spinal cord neurons using genetic signatures, revealing new ways of classifying and tagging subsets of cells. The findings offer a precise way to study the function of spinal cord neurons and their role in regulating body movements.
A team of researchers has successfully developed a highly sensitive magnetoencephalography (MEG) technology that can detect even fast brain oscillations produced in response to single sensory stimuli. This breakthrough enables noninvasive observation of nerve cells transmitting information, shedding light on factors such as alertness a...
Scientists have discovered that the brain perceives odor mixtures as a new identity, rather than a combination of individual odors. This finding supports the pattern theory of sensory encoding, which suggests that multiple neurons are activated simultaneously to create a population code for each smell.
A team of USC Stem Cell scientists has made a groundbreaking discovery about the regeneration of sensory hearing cells in fruit flies. They found that adult flies can produce new JO neurons, which compensate for damaged cells caused by chemotherapy drugs or other stimuli.
Sensory neurons in fingers can detect touch on a single fingerprint ridge scale. This sensitivity explains the human hand's refined sense of touch.
Researchers found that sleep helps connect fear memories to sensory events, allowing accurate associations to be made. Without sleep, brain processing of fear becomes impaired, potentially contributing to anxiety and PTSD.
Researchers found that sounds can change brain circuits in newborn mice, even before the ear canal opens, and may eventually help detect and intervene in abnormal wiring. The study's findings suggest that sensory experience can alter cortical circuits at a very young age, potentially leading to neurodevelopmental problems.
A study published in Nature Communications reveals that mice can extract visual information from nearly 10% of their brain's neurons, making it possible to identify stimuli with high accuracy. The discovery suggests that the brain is a highly efficient machine capable of distributing sensory signals efficiently.
Researchers at UC Riverside identified a cortical region in mice that transforms sensory input into movement, opening new directions for studying sensory-motor transformations. The discovery could lead to targeted therapy for patients with sensory- and motor-related brain deficits.
Researchers at Flinders University have developed a new technique to replicate sensory neurons involved in pain sensation, providing ample resources for testing potential drugs. The technique allows for the easy generation of large numbers of cells, enabling the simultaneous testing of thousands of samples or potential drug libraries.
Brain cells produce brief electrical impulses triggered from highly specialized regions that adapt to sensory experiences. The study found that these trigger sites shrink with increased experiences and grow larger with reduced input.
The new technique allows researchers to study whole neural circuits in high detail and at scale. They used it to create a comprehensive map of neuronal circuits that control motor function in fruit flies, discovering new sensory neurons.
A new study has identified and characterized neurons that regulate nausea-like responses in mice, shedding light on the sensation of nausea. The findings reveal a division of labor between area postrema neurons, with different neuron types responsible for detecting and raising the alarm for various substances.
Researchers at the Salk Institute have mapped the physical organization of cells in the spinal cord that help mediate critical sensorimotor reflexes. The study found that different neurons in the same space had the same function, while more similar neurons located in different areas were responsible for different reflexes.
The study describes how the different neurons form during fetal development, a process that follows different principles to brain neurons. The researchers identified twelve different kinds of ENS neuron, including subgroups of sensory neurons activated by substances in the intestines and affecting the immune system.
A study by University of Sussex scientists suggests that neurons in the sensory cortex can decipher meaning and regulate bodily responses. Researchers found that even in sensory parts of the cortex, there were neurons directly linking learned sequences to motor responses, and some responded to rewards or outcomes.
A high-sugar diet in fruit flies reprograms sweet taste receptors, reducing sensitivity to sweetness and promoting unhealthy eating habits. The study suggests that this epigenetic change may contribute to obesity and chronic diseases.
Researchers discovered that different types of injury activate distinct spinal circuits, explaining why pain medications don't alleviate mechanical allodynia in all patients. The study may lead to new treatment strategies for pain management by targeting specific neural pathways in the spinal cord.
A team of researchers from Australia, India, and Bangladesh have developed a neuron-growing ink that uses the body's own electrical signals to guide the growth of nerve cells. The bioconductive ink can be printed in lines to direct where neurons grow, cracking a major challenge in nerve engineering.
A specific region of messenger RNAs plays a crucial role in brain cell function. The study reveals an unusual EXAR (EXon-Activated Rescue) mechanism that secures this process, using ELAV and FNE proteins to determine neuronal transcript signatures.
Researchers at the University of Michigan discovered a neural network in fruit flies that can convert external stimuli into a binary decision. The network, which involves the posterior medial core region, amplifies weak signals and suppresses strong ones to make 'yes' or 'no' decisions.
Researchers at Scripps Research have identified the PIEZO2 protein as a crucial part of how our body detects bladder fullness. The discovery sheds light on the mechanism underlying normal bladder function and may lead to new treatments for bladder control and urination issues, particularly among the elderly.
Researchers found a group of neurons in female mosquitoes' stylets that activate only when sugar, salt, and other components of blood are present together. This discovery opens the door to further examination of novel forms of taste detection and unique feeding strategies.
A University of Maryland biologist has been awarded $1.5 million to develop new tools for studying brain mapping techniques. The project aims to create a comprehensive molecular map of synapses during development, aging, and disease, which could lead to potential treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders and other cognitive functions.
Researchers found that reduced odor stimulation reduces newly-generated neurons with specific receptors, suggesting a selective alteration in neurogenesis. This discovery challenges the random subtype identity model and suggests a potential adaptive function for lifelong olfactory sensory neurogenesis.
Researchers developed an optoelectronic implant that stimulates sensory neurons with light, inducing mild inflammation in animals. This study shows a neuroimmune interaction between pain and inflammation, offering new insights into future treatments.
Research from Kyushu University shows that odors can activate or suppress the response of olfactory sensory neurons in mice, leading to complex interactions and synergy when mixing odors. This study provides new insights into how our perception of odors is tuned from the moment they are detected in the nose.
Researchers at the University of Zurich have discovered that the orbitofrontal cortex can reprogram neurons in sensory areas to enable flexible decision-making. This process involves a direct connection between the two regions, allowing for rapid adaptation to new situations.
Researchers found that microglia direct neurons to modify their connectivity in response to visual stimuli, shaping the brain's neural circuits. This discovery sheds light on how sensory experience influences brain maturation and may have implications for neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism.
A recent study published in JNeurosci found that stroking skin triggers an anti-itch neural pathway in the spinal cord, reducing itchiness. The researchers discovered that sensory neurons under the skin activate anti-itch interneurons, leading to reduced neural activity and relief from itching.
Researchers used two-photon imaging to study the activity of layer 6 neurons in mice, finding three distinct populations that reacted differently to visual stimulation. These neurons complement each other to regulate information flow from sensory organs to the cortex, influencing our ability to focus or lose attention.
Researchers created a new reporter mouse strain to visualize and manipulate P2X2-expressing cells, revealing their expression in specific subsets of sensory nerves. The study sheds light on the selective targeting of therapeutic approaches to address sensory nerve dysfunction.
Research identifies two functionally distinct sub-circuits in the sensory thalamus that process distinct classes of information. These circuits enable powerful new optogenetic and chemogenetic strategies to probe behavioral and perceptual functions, potentially shedding light on conscious awareness and epilepsy.
Researchers studied how hoverflies process visual information to control their flight movements, finding that descending neurons adapt like sensory neurons but also persistently fire like motor neurons. This unique integration of responses offers insights into the brain-behavior link in flies and potentially all vertebrates.
A study by Aarhus University researchers has discovered the function of nerve cells in the eye that sense visual movement. This knowledge is crucial for developing targeted treatments for diseases like dementia and schizophrenia.
A study from North Carolina State University found that the protein periostin can directly activate itch-associated neurons in the skin, leading to increased itching in atopic dermatitis. Blocking periostin receptors reduced itch response in a mouse model of eczema.
A recent study published in Autonomic Neuroscience: Basic and Clinical reveals the extent of connections between the small intestine and the entire brain. Half of the neurons transmitting signals from the gut to the brain also send motor signals, enabling cross-talk within the same neuron.
A new study reveals a neural circuit that underlies sensory hypersensitivity in mice with autism-like traits. The research suggests that reestablishing normal levels of neuron activity could reverse this kind of hypersensitivity, providing a potential target for developing treatments.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have discovered how different brain cell types in the striatum respond to sensory inputs and motor commands, shedding new light on how we align our movements with sensory feedback. The study reveals distinct receptor compositions and response patterns among five striatal neuron populations.
Researchers at University of Notre Dame have identified a strategy to support nerve regeneration after brachial plexus injury. The study found that chemotherapy treatment can help stabilize axon invasion, allowing severed sensory axons to penetrate the spinal cord barrier.
Researchers have discovered a way to reconstruct stable neural activity patterns from tens of neurons, potentially allowing for consistent control of neuroprostheses over long periods. This breakthrough has immediate implications for advancing neuroprosthetic devices that bypass neurological injuries.
Scientists at Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience have developed novel biosensors to study CREB dynamics in living brains. They found that sensory experiences shape CREB activity over hours to days after a stimulus, and this effect can be observed even when visual stimuli are absent.
Research at Rockefeller University discovered a new brain area, PITd, that steers attention and challenges the long-held concept of attention control. The finding suggests a rethinking of old concepts about attentional control and highlights the complexity of the brain's attention mechanisms.
A UC Riverside-led research team found that fruit fly taste neurons can detect different categories of aversive chemicals and convey this information to the brain, where it controls food intake. The study's findings have implications for understanding feeding behavior in insects and could lead to strategies for controlling insect pests...
Researchers identified a cluster of 38 neurons in the hindbrain that mediate delayed escape responses in zebrafish, characterized by flexible trajectories. This circuit may represent an evolutionarily ancient pathway for defensive responses to threats sensed via acoustic or vibrational cues.
Researchers have identified a key mechanism underlying atopic dermatitis, a chronic inflammatory skin disease affecting 20% of children and 5% of adults. The study reveals that mast cells and sensory neurons interact in 'sensory neuroimmune units' to detect allergens, triggering inflammation.