Articles tagged with Sensory Systems
Researchers investigated how hawkmoths integrate visual and tactile cues to track flowers, revealing a simple additive model for signal combination. The study suggests that the sense of touch plays a greater role in tracking behavior, but both senses are used to follow the flower.
A research team from Northwestern University and Lund University has identified a sensory system in fruit flies that directly detects air humidity, allowing them to adapt to changing environments. Understanding this ability could lead to new tools for mosquito control and inform the prediction of species distribution under global warming.
Researchers successfully promoted the repair of an injured neural circuit in zebrafish using a special form of inducible adenylyl cyclase that responds to blue light, increasing repair rates by up to 30%. This breakthrough has potential therapeutic implications for conditions like diabetes-related neuropathies.
Researchers found that mosquitoes employ a razor-sharp sense of smell to detect warm-blooded prey, triggering vision and other sensory systems. The team used wind tunnels to study mosquito behavior, observing how carbon dioxide triggers a strong response in the insects.
A team of scientists has identified the nature of fish's 'sixth sense', which allows them to detect flows of water. The research found that a unique layout of flow sensors on the surface of fish is nearly universal across species, enabling them to retrieve signals about water flow and use this information in different behaviors.
Researchers at Rutgers University found that neurons in mice reacted more strongly to threatening odors before the brain interpreted the message. This discovery could lead to new therapeutic treatments for anxiety disorders by understanding how fear-learning affects the senses.
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.
People with high IQ scores have more selective visual perception, discriminating between small moving objects and larger background motions. This ability helps them efficiently process information in a world filled with distractions.
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 have shown that gene therapy can induce the formation of extra sensory hair cells in young mice, but this approach has limitations in older animals. Introducing a specific gene called Atoh1 into the cochleae of young mice can produce electrical signals and connect with neurons.
Researchers identified KCa3.1 ion channel in Purkinje cells, allowing them to filter sensory input and coordinate body movements. This discovery fills a gap in understanding how neurons process information.
Researchers have identified a potential oral therapy for HSAN1, an inherited nerve dysfunction characterized by progressive muscle control loss. Oral administration of L-serine reversed deoxysphingolipid accumulation and reduced neuropathy severity in mice and humans with the disease.
A new study demonstrates that even a simple microbe can achieve sophisticated sensory adaptation, allowing its behavior to remain consistent in ever-changing background conditions. Researchers found that E. coli responds to relative changes in sensory inputs rather than absolute concentrations.
Researchers found that WTC workers had decreased sensitivity to odors and irritants, with nearly 75% experiencing impaired ability to detect irritants. The study suggests regular evaluation of sensory function is crucial for WTC responders and workers with pollutant exposures.
The study reveals that fish and some amphibians use a unique sensory system to detect vibrations in water, allowing them to navigate and locate prey. Mathematical models developed by researchers demonstrate surprising accuracy in predicting nerve signals, enabling potential applications in robotics.
A global team of researchers has discovered an alteration in the ear's nAChR protein that contributes to protecting against permanent hearing loss by limiting sound. The study found that genetically altered mice with improved sound-blocking ability suffered less permanent hearing damage when exposed to loud sounds.
The Yu Lab's large-scale imaging experiments found that neurons encode specific ways to identify animals based on gender, reproductive status, and genetic background. This research sheds light on how the nervous system processes sensory information to generate meaningful perception and behavioral output.
The University of Iowa team identified two key genes involved in moisture sensing, allowing fruit flies to detect subtle changes in humidity. This discovery provides crucial insights into the mechanisms of hygrosensation and its potential applications in understanding sensory processes.
Research at University of Bath finds fibromyalgia pain caused by a mismatch between sensory and motor systems. The study suggests that confusing the brain's sensory-motor systems can exacerbate symptoms, and may even trigger pain flares.
Researchers have identified a functional neuronal connection between retinal neurons and the brain's Cluster N region in migratory birds. This link suggests that migratory birds use their visual system to detect the geomagnetic field, supporting the hypothesis that they can 'see' the magnetic field.
A team led by Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory has developed a fully integrated prosthetic arm that can be controlled naturally and provide sensory feedback, with eight degrees of freedom. The prototype, Proto 1, was fitted for clinical evaluations and demonstrated substantial improvements in functional testing.
Researchers found that grasshopper auditory neurons respond optimally to specific stimulus ensembles that differ from natural sounds but overlap with components of mating calls. This challenges the efficient coding hypothesis and suggests a weighted ensemble of natural stimuli based on behavioral relevance.
Researchers aim to create implantable human hair cells that can grow and repair damaged hearing. The work involves expanding adult stem cells isolated from mouse inner ear, a step towards restoring hearing in humans. The collaboration between Corwin and Heller at the Marine Biological Laboratory is an important breakthrough.
Researchers discovered a corollary discharge inhibition mechanism that enables crickets to hear external sounds during song production, preventing desensitization. This allows males to defend their territory and respond to noisy predators.
A Yale physician has performed five endoscopic procedures using high-definition television (HDTV), increasing image sharpness by more than double. The miniaturized HDTV camera system provided the best image ever seen, enabling accurate and minimally invasive surgeries with reduced costs and rapid recovery times.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University found that neurons in adult monkey brains grow and form new connections in somatosensory areas after amputation or spinal cord injury, suggesting a link to phantom limb syndrome. This discovery may lead to treatment options for phantom limb pain and potentially repair severed spinal cord injuries.
Researchers discovered that higher brain centers act as training wheels for the lower brain by providing input to adapt to damaged sensory pathways. This feedback loop enables the lower brain to reorganize and form new neural pathways.
Research shows preterm babies may exhibit mild behavioral and sensory response problems, but most develop normal motor and mental function. The study suggests that these differences are not indicative of long-term developmental issues.
Researchers found that the thalamus, a key brain region, can remodel its connections after sensory nerves are severed, potentially leading to recovery of function after stroke or nervous system damage. The discovery sheds light on the brain's ability to reorganize and challenges scientific dogma that it is fixed after infancy.
A study by George Huntley found that sensory deprivation, even from birth, affects the development of brain areas controlling movement. This has significant implications for humans, suggesting early life visual defects may impact both sensory and motor areas.