Articles tagged with Sensory Neurons
A new study from the Salk Institute discovered that the p75 protein plays a crucial role in pain signaling, supporting the survival of sensory neurons that transmit pain signals. This finding has significant implications for understanding neurological disorders and developing treatments for conditions such as spinal cord injury.
A Harvard Medical School study found that neurons involved in learning and memory are less stable than previously thought, but more flexible. This flexibility allows the brain to easily integrate new information and adapt to changing circumstances.
Researchers have developed a new surgical technique to reconnect sensory neurons to the spinal cord, offering hope for treating traumatic spinal injuries. The technique involves implanting neural offshoots into the dorsal horn of the spinal cord to form a functional neural circuit.
Researchers visualize how fruit flies sense and process both temperature and humidity through their brains, revealing a 'sensory map' that helps them avoid hot and dry conditions. This discovery could inform strategies to prevent mosquito-borne diseases by targeting the mosquitoes' own humidity receptors.
Researchers discovered cooperative neural networks in posterior parietal cortex, allowing information persistence over time, and contrasted with independent auditory cortex neurons.
Researchers found that mice lacking a sense of smell lose an average of 16% body weight, with most weight loss coming from fat. The team discovered a link between the loss of smell and increased burning of brown fat, which helps with weight regulation.
Researchers develop fully automated method to analyze neural networks trained on visual data, shedding light on node firing patterns and emphasis on different visual properties. The approach provides specific insights into the organization of human brain and computer vision algorithms.
Researchers at UC Berkeley reconstructed a mouse's whisker map of its surroundings, revealing a new layer of spatial awareness. This discovery may have implications for understanding how humans perceive space and navigate their environment.
Researchers found that increasing serotonergic activity in a mouse model of autism improved social behavior and reduced abnormal brain activity. The study suggests that serotonin may be potentially therapeutic for discrete ASD symptoms.
A study has identified a specific combination of mechanisms that allows auditory neurons to measure the difference between sound signal arrival times at the two ears with high accuracy. The researchers found that certain structural features of the nerve cells' wrapping play a crucial role in this process.
Researchers identified neural circuits behind sensory deficits in Parkinson's disease by studying mice with dopamine-depleted brains. The study found that treating mice with L-DOPA restored their ability to distinguish between left and right whiskers, offering new avenues for earlier diagnosis.
A study in mice suggests that abnormalities in sensory synapses may contribute to the disease, and increasing their activity can alleviate symptoms. The findings also indicate that targeting these synapses could be a new approach for treating spinal muscular atrophy.
Scientists have identified nerve cells in the skin of genetically engineered mice that sense both touch and motion, enabling active perception of the environment. This discovery advances the search for better prosthetics with natural sensory feedback for people.
Researchers at Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown identify apterous neurons as key indicators of female receptivity in fruit flies. The discovery links a female's walking speed to her willingness to mate, with silencing these neurons reducing her receptivity.
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory found that dopamine-releasing neurons factor ambiguity into predictions, enabling effective learning and decision-making. The study adds a new dimension to our understanding of brain function, suggesting that these neurons are more sophisticated than previously thought.
New insights reveal that inhibitory neurons contribute to finely-tuned networks in the cortex, linking together neurons with similar functional properties. This discovery raises important questions about how these connections are formed during development.
A team of neuroscientists has found that somatostatin-expressing (Sst) interneurons play a key role in controlling the flow of information in the brain. The researchers discovered that these cells operate like a switchboard, selectively blocking or encouraging the flow of information to help animals make informed decisions and guide th...
Scientists have created a groundbreaking brain-machine interface that allows for bidirectional communication between the brain and prosthetic limbs. By transmitting sensory feedback to the brain, researchers were able to induce an artificial sensation of movement in paralyzed patients. This innovative technology holds promise for devel...
A new model, aggregate-label learning, proposes that neurons serve as reliable clue detectors to their host by matching spike output to the magnitude of a cue. This approach outperforms existing models in processing continuous streams of sensory information.
Scientists discover that a minuscule change in brain connections between detecting hawthorn and apple odours may be the cause for the split amongst these fruit flies. This finding suggests that even small changes in nervous system can have significant effects on species, particularly in response to introduced foreign species.
Researchers developed a new PET imaging technique that can detect changes in olfactory neuron populations, which are sensitive to neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases. The technique uses GV1-57 radiotracer to quantify neuron generation and degeneration, providing insights into disease progression.
Researchers have developed a novel PET radiatracer called Neuroflux to quantify olfactory sensory neurons, improving measurements of olfactory health. The study found decreased signals in young animal models before cognitive symptoms onset, demonstrating the vulnerability of olfactory neurons.
Researchers at the University of Freiburg discovered that dopamine release is triggered by tactile and visual stimuli in the forebrain, affecting brain function. This finding may lead to new treatments for restless leg syndrome, a condition causing unpleasant sensations during sleep.
A study by Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Driever and his team discovered that specific tactile and visual stimuli activate dopaminergic nerve cells in the forebrain, affecting brain function and basic behaviour. This finding could lead to new treatments for conditions like restless leg syndrome.
Researchers found that human pyramidal neurons have a specific membrane capacitance that is half of the universal value for biological membranes, improving signal processing and communication within and between cortical neurons. This unique property may be an evolutionary adaptation to compensate for the larger brain and cells in humans.
A TSRI study found that the Piezo2 protein plays a critical role in sensing lung expansion and regulating breathing. Researchers discovered that newborn mice lacking Piezo2 channel show severe respiratory distress, while adult mice with deleted channels inhale more air than normal.
A study by NC State University researchers found that adult-born olfactory neurons play a crucial role in processing novel food odors, but not aversive odors. The researchers used chemogenetic methods to selectively silence these neurons and observed the impact on behavior.
A recent study by Duke University researchers has identified a crucial link between autism and pain sensation, suggesting that the SHANK3 protein plays a key role in transmitting pain signals. The findings have significant implications for understanding autism-related sensory problems and developing effective treatments.
A study published in Nature Neuroscience found that nerve cells dedicated to hearing rely on surrounding context to properly interpret and react to familiar sounds. Researchers observed patterns based on a basic divide in the nature of nerve cells, with excitatory and inhibitory neurons working together to balance brain activity.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine discovered a region in the mosquito brain mixing tastes and smells to create unique flavors. The finding advances the possibility of identifying a repellent odorant that makes human flavor unappealing to mosquitoes, reducing malaria transmission.
Scientists discovered a molecular brake that prevents nerve fibers from regenerating, and found a drug that can trigger neuronal growth. Pregabalin treatment caused new connections to form between damaged neurons in mice with spinal cord injuries.
Researchers discovered a protein that prevents delta opioid receptors from responding normally to opioids, but exposure to bradykinin restores their function. This finding could lead to the development of safer, more effective opioids for chronic pain treatment.
Researchers found that males lost neurons detecting female pheromones after chronic exposure, while females showed no effect from male urine. This study explains differences among individuals and between the sexes through sensory experience rather than innate or hormonal factors.
Scientists have discovered how sensory nerve cells work together to transmit itch signals, identifying a new potential target for treating itching. The discovery suggests that interfering with the activity of sensory neurons may inhibit multiple types of itching.
A study found that parvalbumin-interneurons in the amygdala regulate emotional reactivity by suppressing surrounding neurons. This inhibitory plasticity is a normal consequence of memory encoding, but dysregulation may lead to hyperexcitability and pathological fear expression.
Scientists observed real-time formation and evolution of new adult-born neurons in the olfactory bulb of mice. Constant structural plasticity in connections between new neurons and neighboring cells was revealed, enabling efficient processing of sensory information.
A new mouse study suggests that autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) may be linked to defects in peripheral nerves, rather than just the brain. The research found that mice with ASD-associated gene mutations exhibited abnormal touch sensitivity and anxiety-like behavior.
Researchers used tadpoles to study sensory integration in the brain, finding that immature brains overreact to simultaneous stimuli. As brains mature, inhibitory neurons gain balance with excitatory neurons, allowing for more refined discrimination between simultaneous and non-simultaneous inputs.
Researchers discovered that a molecule involved in fish reproduction, PGF2α, activates the brain via the nose, synchronizing reproductive behaviors between male and female zebrafish. The molecule binds to specific olfactory receptors, activating a dedicated neural pathway to areas of the brain responsible for courtship behavior.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School discover a novel logic for mammalian olfaction that defies the traditional one-to-one correspondence between odors and receptors. The 'olfactory necklace' system uses a different class of chemoreceptors to detect carbon dioxide and other molecules, triggering innate behaviors such as avoidance.
Researchers found that stimulation from outside world guides neurons' early development, leading to two different types of inhibitory neurons. This adds complexity and regulation to brain circuitry, with implications for treating neurological disorders like autism, schizophrenia, and depression.
Harvard researchers have identified a new mechanism for detecting odors in mammals, using 'necklace' neurons that express MS4A proteins to respond to specific smells like nuts and pheromones. This discovery revises the canonical view of how animals probe their chemical environment.
POSTECH researchers found sensory neurons modulate aging hormone activity through food smells and tastes, shortening lifespan. Insulin-6 produced by sensory neurons alters FOXO protein action, leading to reduced aging effects.
A study published in NeuroImage reveals that general anesthesia leads to a 'communication breakdown' in the cortex, where isolated cognitive islands process sensory information without communicating with other areas. The researchers used precise measurements to observe the interruption between brain regions.
A new study in Cell Reports found that macaques have a third set of neurons in their sensory cortex that respond optimally to curved motion. This discovery provides insights into how animals navigate through three-dimensional spaces and could have implications for human balance and movement.
Scientists at McGill University used optogenetics to reduce the sensitivity of mice to touch and heat by shining yellow light on specific neurons. The research offers new hope for treating chronic pain without the side effects of traditional medication.
Researchers at Umea University discovered that motor learning relies on the independent control of sensory neurons in muscles. This adjustment allows for selectively informative sensory information to be extracted from spindles during learning.
A team of researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and California Institute of Technology has found a neural network in male worms that processes sex-specific sensory cues, allowing them to make decisions about pursuing mates. The network involves four male-specific sensory neurons that communicate with each other through synapti...
Two NYU faculty, Marc Gershow and Katherine Nagel, have been awarded Sloan Foundation research fellowships. The fellowships provide $55,000 over two years to support their research in fields such as neuroscience and physics.
The thalamus enhances and stores sensory information, allowing the brain to filter out important data and forward it in an amplified form. Researchers have identified the higher-order thalamus as a key player in this process, which has implications for understanding sensory perception and behavior.
Researchers demonstrate CCL2 activates healing inflammatory immune responses and gene expression to promote nerve regeneration. Macrophages triggered by CCL2 increase regenerative capacity of dorsal root ganglia neurons.
Researchers altered brain activity of rats by changing firing rates of neurons in the central thalamus, waking some and putting others into unconscious states. The study uses functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to scan brain activity and may guide deep brain stimulation therapies for neurological disorders.
Researchers at UCLA found that people struggle to accurately identify the source of sights and sounds, despite relying on our senses for perception. The study suggests that the brain makes tradeoffs between precision and error tolerance, with benefits for tasks performed in high-acuity areas but limitations in outer areas.
A new study identifies brain processes in mice that may help explain how weak sensory inputs are interpreted differently in the same brain. Activity in higher-level perception areas of the brain is shaped by lower-level sensory input, adding a cellular layer to our understanding of perception.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a technique that allows them to read the mind of a fly by lighting up active conversations between neurons during behaviors or sensory experiences. This can provide valuable insights into the computational processes underlying human brain function.
A team led by TSRI researchers identifies Piezo2 as the long-sought protein sensor for proprioception, allowing scientists to better understand this essential sense. The discovery may also lead to a deeper understanding of human diseases related to proprioception.
Researchers at the Salk Institute have found evidence of a dedicated neural pathway that transmits the itchy feeling triggered by light touch. The study sheds light on potential mechanisms of chronic itch and may help explain why some people are unresponsive to antihistamine drugs.
A study published in Nature found that the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) plays a crucial role in multitasking by filtering out distracting sensory information. The TRN acts like a switchboard, continuously filtering sensory input and shifting attention to one sense while blocking out others.
Scientists mapped the thalamus circuitry that may be involved in neurological disorders such as autism, ADHD, and schizophrenia. The study found that inhibitory neurons in the thalamus play a critical role in filtering out distractions.
Keren Haroush and Jerry Chen receive $25,000 each for their pioneering work on neural mechanisms of cooperative social interaction and learning, respectively. Their studies have significantly advanced understanding of brain function and behavior.