Articles tagged with Sensory Neurons
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Researcher Richard Born's team at Harvard Medical School has discovered key principles about how the brain makes sense of visual information. They found that individual neurons are tuned to detect specific motions and relative depth, with a direct bottom-up contribution to these signals.
Scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory report a neural circuit in the mouse olfactory bulb that helps adjust gain on powerful odors. This mechanism allows for better smell recognition and reduces the risk of being overwhelmed by strong smells.
Researchers at TSRI discovered that a hormone called progesterone blocks signals from male odor molecules in female mouse noses during diestrus, leading to 'male odor blindness' and altered behavior. This finding suggests new avenues for studying senses and behavior.
CRG scientists map neural circuitry involved in converting olfactory inputs into navigational behaviors in fruit fly Drosophila larva. Brief excitations of identified neurons trigger changes in orientation, demonstrating the necessity and sufficiency of a couple of neurons to control chemotaxis.
A team of NYU researchers discovered that two growth factor families, TrkB and TGFβr-II, play distinct roles in creating long-term memories by exerting their actions in different parts of the brain. At different times, these molecules swap roles to facilitate memory formation.
Researchers discovered two distinct types of nervous systems in the respiratory circuit, one for upper airway sensations and another for lower lung region emotions. This breakthrough may lead to new treatments for cough hypersensitivity and related respiratory diseases.
Researchers found that inactivating Lhx2 in mature neurons can reprogram them to process different senses, expanding one region at the expense of another. This discovery provides proof of brain plasticity and may lead to new therapeutic approaches for treating human disorders such as autism.
Researchers created detailed 3D models of rodent brain's sensory cortex, showing interconnected networks across cortical columns. The study found that neurons in different cell types project to multiple columns, with non-uniform axon projection patterns, and these pathways can encode complex sensory information.
Scientists found that AGRP neurons, responsible for unpleasant feelings of hunger, help explain why it's hard to stick to a diet. These neurons teach animals to respond to sensory cues that signal the presence of food, making them more likely to snack.
A new study describes how the neocortex selectively samples sensory information from the thalamus, controlling the throughput of sensory input. The researchers found that cortical neurons control thalamic neuron activity by varying signal frequency, either suppressing or enhancing it.
Scientists have identified two sensory neuron subtypes controlling different respiratory functions in mice, revealing a complex vagus nerve system that may lead to targeted therapies. The study sheds light on the molecular mechanisms underlying breathing control and has implications for treating various conditions.
Researchers found that capsaicin-evoked burning pain sensation is caused by sequential activation of TRPV1 and anoctamin 1, leading to further depolarization. Anoctamin 1 activation increases pain sensation in mice, while chemical blockade provides relief from pain induced by TRPV1 activation.
Researchers studied a simple three-cell network within the roundworm brain and found that the collective state of the neurons determines the likelihood of movement towards an odor. The study suggests that nervous systems have internal patterns of activity that are as important as external signals in generating behaviors.
Researchers at NYU have devised a computer model that explains how the brain classifies visual stimuli into distinct categories. The model, published in Nature Communications, reveals that top-down feedback projections from category-selective neurons to feature-coding neurons are essential for learning correct category boundaries.
Researchers discovered a type of neuron in the olfactory cortex that serves as a tuner and volume control for various neuronal inputs, increasing signal-to-noise ratio and improving odor discrimination. This discovery has implications for understanding epilepsy, which often affects the olfactory cortex.
Researchers at Northwestern University have discovered how a fruit fly's brain represents temperature, mapping it neuron by neuron. The study reveals three types of neurons that respond to hot, cold, or both temperatures, converging in the brain to create a cohesive response.
Researchers have identified ducks as an ideal model organism to study the cellular mechanisms of mechanosensation, a complex process involving sensory neurons. The study reveals that ducks have highly specialized trigeminal ganglion neurons that are capable of converting force into excitation more efficiently than other birds and mammals.
A cluster of neurons in the spinal cord, known as RORα neurons, integrates sensory information from light touch sensors to control muscle movements. This 'mini-brain' helps regulate balance and prevents falls by making subtle adjustments to foot position.
A new system between the gut and nervous system may be more direct than hormone release in signaling fullness. The connection also suggests a potential pathway for foodborne viruses to infect the brain.
The study reveals that more active neurons respond to a broader receptive field and play a crucial role in our sensory perception. The researchers used optogenetic stimulation to activate specific thalamic nuclei, finding that the posteromedial nucleus (POm) elicits a stronger response.
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute found that a brain region called the lateral horn can categorize odors as good or bad and weak or strong. This ability is similar to the function of the amygdala in vertebrates, which evaluates sensory impressions and dangers.
Researchers found glial cells transmit information to neurons through a specific protein fragment, influencing neural cross-talk. Disruption of this flow affects learning and sensory input processing, leading to behavioral changes.
A team of scientists at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz uncovered a new signal pathway in the brain that plays a crucial role in learning and sensory input processing. Glial cells release a specific protein fragment that influences neuronal cross-talk, leading to changes in neural networks.
Researchers used electrodes to record single neurons' activity in singing Bengalese finches, finding that precise timing of spikes contains more information than rate. The study's findings could improve prosthetic limb control and provide insights into brain function.
Researchers at Salk Institute and Harvard Medical School have identified a neural mechanism in the spinal cord that sends erroneous pain signals to the brain. The discovery provides a key to understanding how chronic pain disorders arise from dysfunctional neural processing, opening doors to potential new treatments.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute have developed a method to convert human skin cells into sensory neurons, allowing for the study of pain and itch in a laboratory setting. This breakthrough enables the examination of neurodegenerative diseases such as Friedreich's ataxia and the testing of potential therapies.
A team at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory discovered a population of neurons that can process multiple behaviors at once, blurring the lines of specialization. This finding raises questions about how information is encoded in the brain and may lead to new approaches in understanding cognition and mental disorders.
A study published in Cell Reports found that female fruit flies exhibit a preference for acetic acid, or vinegar, when carrying eggs due to sensory neurons detecting stretch in the reproductive tract. This behavior is linked to pregnancy and egg production, challenging previous assumptions about hormonal influences.
Researchers at Lund University have identified a previously unknown mechanism by which the brain produces new nerve cells after a stroke. Astrocytes, support cells in the brain, can form immature nerve cells that mature into functional neurons.
A study reveals that female fruit flies use a small number of excitatory neurons and neurotransmitters like acetylcholine to decide whether to accept or reject male courtship. The decision-making process is found to be generated in three brain regions, suggesting a complex circuit involving sensory inputs and neural signaling.
Rabies uses a nerve growth factor receptor to enter the central nervous system, where it causes acute inflammation and violent aggression. The virus manipulates neuronal transport machinery to move faster than normal, allowing it to reach the brain with maximum speed.
A UMD-led research team will investigate how large networks of neurons process sensory information, focusing on the auditory cortex. The goal is to identify key groups of neurons that change over time and develop new imaging technologies and data analysis techniques.
A study using morphed images of celebrities found that individual neurons react to subjective perception rather than visual stimuli. This suggests that neurons play a key role in the formation of memory by encoding our thoughts and images.
Neuroscientists found that sensory stimuli, even when neurons are silent, can generate long-term synaptic strengthening. This discovery challenges traditional models of synaptic plasticity and has implications for understanding learning and memory, as well as therapeutic possibilities.
Brown University neuroscientists report that they have directly controlled the cells producing gamma brainwaves in mice, resulting in increased touch sensitivity. The study confirms the first direct evidence of gamma brainwaves affecting perception and attention, suggesting a more complex role for these brainwaves than previously thought.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet find that the striatum integrates sensory input from touch, vision, and sound to guide movements. The study provides insight into the brain's processing of external input and its role in motor function and disease.
Researchers have identified specific neural groups in female fruit flies that regulate their choice to mate, revealing new clues for understanding human sexual behavior. These findings could provide a starting point for exploring the neural mechanisms underlying courtship behaviors in other species.
In a study published in Current Biology, researchers found that the Abdominal-B gene controls a set of neurons responsible for a major part of female fly receptivity. This discovery provides insight into the neural circuitry that drives courtship behavior on the female side.
MIT researchers successfully control muscle movement in awake and alert mice by applying blue light to their spinal cords via optogenetics. This technique reveals the function of inhibitory interneurons that form complex circuits with other neurons, allowing for precise control over specific subsets of neurons.
New research reveals how a quick-escape circuit in the fly's brain overrides slower behavior when an urgent threat is detected. Flies can choose between long and short escapes, with quicker escapes often resulting in clumsier movements.
Researchers at UNC School of Medicine have found a new target for treating chronic pain by targeting the enzyme PIP5K1C. By reducing the level of this enzyme, they showed that the levels of a crucial lipid called PIP2 in pain-sensing neurons is also lessened, thus decreasing pain.
Researchers have developed a new theoretical model to understand how cells monitor and self-regulate their properties in the face of continual cellular turnover. The model suggests that neurons use an internal gauge to adjust ion channel expression, but this system can lead to neuronal hyperexcitability and disrupt overall homeostasis.
Scientists have developed a new imaging system that reveals neural activity throughout the brains of living animals in 3-D. The technique allows for simultaneous imaging of every neuron in the worm Caenorhabditis elegans and the entire brain of a zebrafish larva, providing a more complete picture of nervous system activity.
Two types of spinal cord neurons were identified as enabling skilled forelimb movement: excitatory interneurons for accuracy and inhibitory interneurons for smooth movement. The discovery may lead to understanding normal human motor function and potentially treating movement disorders.
Researchers pinpoint specific neurons where certain types of memory formation occur, a breakthrough that could help predict disease-damaged neurons in humans. The study used imaging technology to follow changes in the brains of live flies and found that certain dopaminergic neurons respond to elevated levels of cAMP.
Researchers successfully delivered adeno-associated virus serotype-5 (AAV-5) to the rat trigeminal ganglion, demonstrating transduction efficiency in sensory neurons. The study's findings support the use of AAV-5 based gene therapy approaches for evaluating target proteins and potential treatments for trigeminal pain disorders.
A protein in Drosophila controls the metamorphosis of dendrites, thin structures that receive electrical impulses. The discovery could help treat brain injuries by allowing neurons to regrow new dendrites and function better after injury.
Researchers reconstructed the neuronal circuits of an adult male nematode to understand how sensory neurons interpret signals from the environment and translate them into mating behavior. The comprehensive map, known as a connectome, reveals various classes of neurons involved in locomotion, posture, and insemination.
Researchers at the University of Maryland found that adult mice experienced improved hearing after simulated blindness, which could lead to new treatments for hearing loss and tinnitus. The study showed that temporary vision loss can rewire the brain's auditory system in adults, allowing for sharper sound discrimination and sensitivity.
Researchers found that reading a novel can cause changes in the brain's resting-state connectivity that persist for days after reading. The study, published in Brain Connectivity, used fMRI to examine the neural effects of reading a narrative.
Research by Yi Dai and team found that allyl isothiocyanate activates transient receptor potential channel A1, leading to calcitonin gene-related peptide release in sensory neurons. Knockdown of this channel prevents calcitonin gene-related peptide release, supporting the role of transient receptor potential channel A1 in hyperalgesia.
A new study found that fruit flies exhibit a strong preference for laying eggs on citrus substrates compared to other types of fruit. The basis for this preference lies in a single odorant receptor called Or19a, which is responsible for detecting the characteristic smell of citrus.
A research team at Worcester Polytechnic Institute has developed a novel system to image brain activity in worms. The technology can be used to study the genetics and neural circuitry associated with animal behavior and screen early stage compounds aimed at treating autism, anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and other brain disorders.
A team of Stanford neuroscientists and engineers found that a localized region of the prefrontal cortex converges color and motion signals to make two snap judgments: which sensory input is most relevant, and what action to take. This discovery confounds conventional wisdom on decision-making processes.
Researchers at RIKEN Brain Science Institute have discovered a protein called BTBD3 that optimizes neuronal shape for efficient sensory input reception. This finding sheds light on how brain cells are positioned to receive incoming sensory information, enabling highly developed senses in animals.
Researchers at Brandeis University observed a neural firing-rate set point in neocortical neurons, which remains stable even during sensory deprivation or sleep. This homeostatic mechanism could lead to new approaches for neurological disorders.
Research in mouse whiskers reveals a surprise -- at the fine scale, the sensory system's wiring diagram doesn't have a set pattern. The results highlight a 'one-to-many, many-to-one' nerve connectivity strategy that allows for a large repertoire of textures and forms.
In a breakthrough study, researchers found that brain neurons can regulate their own activity to maintain a constant level of activity even after significant changes, such as sensory organ loss. This allows for regeneration and adaptation, essential for healthy brain function and recovery from injury.
A study published in Developmental Cell reveals that birth in mice causes a reduction in serotonin levels, triggering the formation of neural circuits in sensory maps. This finding suggests that birth plays an active role in preparing the newborn for survival outside the womb.
Scientists at Albert Einstein College of Medicine have identified a previously unstudied gene crucial for normal nerve development. The gene, mnr-1, produces an extracellular protein that triggers branching of dendrites in sensory nerves during development.