Articles tagged with Sensory Neurons
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.
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.
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.
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.
Researchers at Salk Institute use salt-sniffing roundworms to show how the nervous system processes sensory information, revealing a complex interplay between neurons and signaling molecules. Insulin is identified as a key player in mediating this process, acting rapidly to transfer information from one neuron to another.
New findings reveal that inhibitory neurons fire less frequently in young brains, allowing for heightened plasticity and learning. In contrast, adult brains exhibit stronger inhibitory neurons, which can impede learning and make it more difficult to acquire new skills.
Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital found that invading bacteria themselves are the cause of pain during skin infections, rather than the body's immune response. The study also showed that activated pain neurons suppress the immune system, potentially helping bacteria become more virulent.
Duke University researchers identified TRPV4 as a critical protein contributing to temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD) pain. The study found that inhibiting TRPV4 reduced bite force and pain, suggesting it may be an attractive target for developing new treatments.
McGill researchers have identified a cluster of cells in the brain that react to unexpected motion, enabling us to maintain our balance. This finding has significant implications for understanding the neural basis of motion sickness.
A team of UCSF researchers discovered a sensory system in the foreleg of fruit flies that tells males whether a potential mate is from the same or different species. The Gr32a system prevents hybrids from forming, helping species preserve its identity.
A new rat brain study reveals that sensory information travels to two places at once: the thalamus and deeper cerebral cortex layers. Signals are relayed from the thalamus to both layer 4 and 5 simultaneously, contradicting decades of dogma.
Scientists at Salk Institute and Gladstone Institutes developed a high-resolution mapping technique to uncover the underlying circuit architecture of the brain. The study found that specific brain regions connect to each other in distinct ways, offering new insights into how these connections influence brain function.
A team of researchers created a 3D map of blood vessels in the cerebral cortex, revealing unexpected connections that don't align with neural cell organization. The study's findings have implications for functional brain imaging and our understanding of dementia.
Scientists at NIH report discovering a small molecule, natriuretic polypeptide b (Nppb), that streams ahead and selectively plugs into a specific nerve cell in the spinal cord, triggering the sensation of itch. In mice with Nppb-deficient neurons, itching was significantly reduced.
Researchers used virtual reality to study how brain cells create maps of the world, revealing that environmental cues such as smell and sound play a major role in activating these cells. The findings provide new insights into how the brain learns and makes memories.
Researchers at Caltech have found that neural-crest stem cells differentiate into microvillous neurons, which sense pheromones, and are distinct from ciliated neurons that detect volatile scents. The discovery sheds light on how olfactory neurons form and may lead to new treatments for conditions like anosmia.
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology discovered that insect odorant receptors are self-regulated, allowing them to amplify sensitivity in response to below-threshold odor stimulation. This mechanism enables flies to detect minute amounts of odors, essential for navigation and finding resources.
Researchers believe neural synchrony is key to understanding how the human brain perceives and processes information. Synchrony code suggests precise timing coordination across neurons is necessary to control brain circuits.
Researchers isolated and ablated neurons expressing TRPM8 protein, which senses cold temperatures in the skin. Mice without these neurons couldn't feel cold but still responded to heat and touch, shedding light on pain treatment advancements.
Researchers at California Institute of Technology have identified a specific class of skin sensory neurons that react to massage-like stroking, paving the way for further study of pleasurable sensations. The discovery uses genetically modified mice and novel recording techniques to pinpoint individual neurons activated by touch.
A single type of neuron in Caenorhabditis elegans nerve cord encodes an entire sensorimotor loop, with feedback driving motion itself. The discovery reveals a sophisticated system allowing the worm to organize its movements through proprioceptive feedback.
Scientists at Duke University Medical Center discovered that specific sensory neurons play a crucial role in the perception of touch in fruit fly larvae. These neurons, characterized by thin spikes and dynamic filopodia structures, are sensitive to force and trigger responses when activated.
Neural activity in response to basic sensory information may be unreliable in individuals with autism, leading to a range of behavioral abnormalities. The study suggests that autism could result from fundamental defects in general neural processing.
Researchers at McGill University have discovered that the brain processes information from the inner ear non-linearly, preferring unexpected changes in stimuli. This finding has significant implications for treating patients with vertigo and dizziness, and may lead to better treatments for balance disorders.
Researchers found that the human olfactory bulb, a brain structure processing sensory input from the nose, lacks new neuron generation like other mammals. This discovery may explain why humans have a poorer sense of smell compared to other animals.
A new study by the Max Planck Florida Institute found that changes in sensory experience can cause massive rewiring of the brain's connections, even in older adults. This rewiring involves fibers supplying the primary input to the cerebral cortex, a key area for sensory perception and cognition.
A study using two-photon microscopy has mapped neuronal activity in the cerebral cortex of mice during learning, revealing that only selected aspects of behavior change neural representation. The research also found that sensory and motor representations are spatially intermingled in the rodent brain.
Researchers have discovered that each type of hair follicle works like a distinct sensory organ, tuned to register different types of touches. This network of neurons allows us to perceive important differences in our surroundings.
Researchers at the Max Planck Florida Institute created the first realistic 3D reconstruction of a thalamocortical column in the rodent brain. This achievement marks a significant milestone toward developing a complete computer model of the brain, which may lead to a deeper understanding of neurological and psychiatric disorders.
Scientists at RIKEN Brain Science Institute discovered mechanisms that enable the brain to focus by efficiently routing relevant information. The study found that sensory signals with high contrast evoke large sensory responses, disrupting focus.
A team of scientists has unraveled how the brain processes complex sensory signals, using a relatively simple computation performed by single nerve cells. The study confirms and extends a computational theory developed earlier, predicting that neurons fire in a manner predicted by a weighted summation rule.
Researchers found that elderly individuals over 60 experience reduced specificity in olfactory sensory neurons, making it harder to differentiate between smells. This can lead to malnutrition and increased risk of poisoning due to impaired ability to detect spoiled food and toxic vapors.
A recent study found that mothers' brains process pup odors and sounds differently than non-mothers, enabling them to detect distress calls. The integration of olfactory and auditory cues is linked to maternal behaviors, suggesting a rapid adaptation in the primary auditory cortex.
A study in worms has yielded clues about how nerves grow by identifying the molecular mechanisms that prompt dendrite development. The QBI team discovered that a ligand and receptor work together to coax certain neurons to extend dendrites towards their targets.
The brain maintains its balance between excitation and inhibition through synaptic changes. Following a retinal lesion, nerve cells reduce their inhibitory synapses by 30% to compensate for lost information.
A study published in the Journal of Neuroscience found that differences in when movement neurons begin accumulating information from sensory neurons explain adjustments in response times. This discovery forces a major modification to existing cognitive models of impulse control, shedding new light on how the brain controls basic impulses.
Researchers at MDC discover that a lack of laminin-332 causes tactile stimuli to be perceived as painful, leading to increased sensitivity and branching of sensory neurons. The findings provide new insights into the disease's mechanisms and potential drug targets for therapy.
A recent study has identified the brain regions responsible for our sense of body ownership, revealing a unified view of the body as a single entity. The findings suggest that multisensory neurons integrate visual, tactile, and proprioceptive information to facilitate full-body ownership.
Researchers at the Salk Institute have developed a mathematical framework to understand how neurons in the retina encode visual information. The study reveals that only information about pairs of temporal stimulus patterns is relayed to the brain, with higher-order combinations being less important than previously thought.
Researchers found two ways neurons communicate: synchronized firing for simple messages and individual spikes for complex ones. This collective approach enhances transmission, but not for intricate information.
A new study reveals that early defects in sensory synapses contribute to motor neuron disease progression, suggesting therapeutic strategies targeting spinal synapses may slow or prevent disease progression.
Researchers have identified a complex brain navigation system in migrating monarch butterflies that integrates internal compass, sun compass, and skylight cues to guide their long-distance migrations. The study reveals the integration of seemingly contradictory signals into a consistent neural representation of the environment.
Researchers have discovered that neurons in the sensory information pathway change their firing levels to enhance discrimination between different sensations. This modification allows brains to switch from detecting an object to identifying it more accurately.
Research by Uppsala University has found that nerve cells responsible for transmitting heat pain are also linked to itching sensations. This discovery could lead to the development of new treatments for conditions like eczema and burns.
Valentin Dragoi, a UTHealth neuroscientist, has won the prestigious NIH Director's Pioneer Award to study how the brain processes information and develop new technologies to monitor neural activity in naturalistic environments. This award will support his high-impact approach to understanding major challenges in biomedical research.
Researchers at University College London found that single neurons and even individual dendrites can effectively distinguish between different temporal sequences of incoming information. This challenges the widely held view that large numbers of neurons working together are necessary for sequence processing in the brain.
Researchers found that intensive auditory training improved sound perception and processing in aging rats, reversing aspects of normal cognitive decline. The study suggests that specially designed mental exercises may benefit people experiencing age-related cognitive decline.
Research by scientists at Rockefeller University shows that adult brain circuits continually modify themselves in response to experience. After removing a mouse's whisker, excitatory connections rapidly sprout and inhibit networks adjust to maintain balance between excitation and inhibition.
Researchers have developed a novel microscopy method that allows for the observation of individual synapses and nerve contact sites in living mammalian brains. The study found that individual neurons integrate inputs from multiple synapses to produce a single output signal, making decisions by a single nerve cell.
Researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center have discovered a family of endogenous capsaicin-like molecules that play an important role in pain biology. They have developed two new classes of analgesics using drugs that either block the synthesis or inactivate these substances.
Researchers identified carbon dioxide as an odorant that alters physiology and affects aging in fruit flies. Flies incapable of smelling CO2 live longer and are resistant to stress. This finding suggests a potential link between sensory perception and aging, with implications for human health.
Researchers have discovered a developmental delay in the brain circuit that processes sensory information in mice with fragile X syndrome, which is associated with hypersensitivity and social withdrawal. This delayed development may contribute to the sensory processing deficits seen in humans with fragile X syndrome.
A Yale team found that inhibitory neurons in the visual cortex control how excitatory cells interact, allowing the brain to process complex scenes efficiently. The 'iceberg phenomenon' shows that only essential information is processed, while non-essential stimuli are suppressed.
Researchers identified a family of proteins called Mrgprs that functions as itch receptors in a rare subset of nerve cells. The study found that MrgprA3 is the primary itch receptor for chloroquine, leading to potential new treatments for nonallergic itch.
The Math1 gene controls the framework for perceiving external and internal body parts, including proprioception, interoception, hearing, balance, and arousal. This discovery has implications for understanding automatic movement and responses to internal and external stimuli.