Articles tagged with Synaptic Plasticity
A new study suggests that supplementing a diet with Ascidiacea, also known as sea squirts, reverses some main signs of aging in animal models. The researchers found that plasmalogens, vital to body processes, decrease with age and contribute to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Scientists at the University of Oxford have developed an 'optomemristor' device that facilitates three-factor learning and emulation of biological computations, making it possible to perform complex machine learning tasks. The device uses both light and electrical signals to interact and consume very little energy.
Researchers found high levels of an enzyme called HDAC9 in healthy neurons, which decline with age and more drastically with Alzheimer's. The study suggests adjusting the enzyme's level may be a potential treatment for both conditions.
Researchers found that NYX-783, a newly discovered drug, modulates NMDA receptor activity in neurons to suppress traumatic memories and spontaneous recovery of PTSD. The drug was effective in reducing fear responses and improving treatment outcomes, particularly in female mice.
Research at Clemson University reveals that flowers use UV-absorbing chemicals to create a 'bulls-eye' effect for pollinating insects, aiding survival. Plants adapt to different environments by producing varying amounts of UV-blocking or absorbing chemicals.
A study found that intact astrocyte networks are essential for neural homeostasis, synaptic plasticity, and spatial cognitive abilities in adult mice. Disrupting these networks impairs spatial learning and memory due to altered neuronal excitability and compromised synaptic transmission.
Researchers found that the master clock and slave clock operate via distinct molecular mechanisms, allowing for robustness and flexibility in regulating bodily rhythms. The master clock's ability to adapt to environmental changes enables quick adjustment to new time zones after international flights.
A study using an Alzheimer's disease mouse model found that female brains experience a faster decay in information processing ability compared to male mice. This results in weaker memory formation and increased memory loss, contributing to the increased vulnerability of females to Alzheimer's disease.
Research finds prepubescent female rodents outperform males in hippocampal long-term potentiation and spatial learning, reversing after puberty. The study proposes optimal teaching strategies should adapt to brain differences between sexes during this critical life stage.
Research reveals that obesity leads to a decline in adipose tissue's ability to respond to changes, causing insulin resistance and inflammation. This loss of function can be addressed through modulating fat tissue phenotypes for therapeutic purposes.
Researchers at RIKEN CBS demonstrate that neural networks minimize energy cost and solve mazes efficiently, pointing to a set of universal mathematical rules. The findings will aid in analyzing impaired brain function and generating optimized neural networks for artificial intelligences.
Researchers found that astrocytes regulate cognitive flexibility by releasing D-serine and glutamate, which integrates synaptic plasticity. Heterosynaptic long-term depression is mediated by astrocytes, critical for memory modification.
Researchers at the University of Göttingen studied how blocking certain enzymes affects brain adaptability in healthy and diseased mice. In healthy mice, inhibiting these enzymes blocked neuronal plasticity, while in stroke-affected mice, it restored lost plasticity.
A new study shows that a specific protein, tomosyn, plays a crucial role in determining the communication style of neurons. The study found that tomosyn enables tonic neurons to release glutamate in measured doses, allowing them to exhibit plasticity and adapt to changes in their circuit partners.
Researchers at the University of Bern have developed an approach called 'evolving-to-learn' (E2L) that enables computers to discover mechanisms of synaptic plasticity, leading to improved learning capabilities. The algorithm was tested in three scenarios and successfully solved new tasks by mimicking biological evolution.
Researchers discovered that a single protein, Kr-h1, responds to socially regulated hormones to orchestrate the complex social transition in Harpegnathos saltator ants. The study reveals important roles for gene regulation and hormone response in controlling animal brains' plasticity.
Scientists have developed a powerful new imaging strategy capable of visualizing the fine, ultrastructural changes to dendritic spines during structural plasticity. They found that the postsynaptic density region underwent significant growth and reorganization on a rapid timescale.
A new study demonstrates that temporarily anesthetizing the retina of the non-amblyopic eye can lastingly improve vision in the amblyopic eye even after the critical period. The approach has shown promising results in two different mammal species, offering a potential pathway for a new and more effective treatment for amblyopia.
Researchers found a mutation in ELOVL4 enzyme impairs communication between neurons, leading to impaired motor control and coordination. The study provides new insights into the essential role of ELOVL4 in motor function and synaptic plasticity, suggesting potential therapeutic strategies for patients with spinocerebellar ataxia.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge and University of Leeds successfully reversed age-related memory loss in mice by manipulating the extracellular matrix of the brain. By restoring the balance of compounds known as chondroitin sulphates, they were able to restore neuroplasticity and alleviate memory deficits.
Researchers discovered that yeast changes hundreds of proteins' expression patterns and subcellular localizations after adapting to a higher temperature. The proteome's plasticity allows the cells to adapt by reducing thermolabile protein load, changing protein conformation, and adopting new functions.
A recent study published in Cell Reports found that KIF5C plays a critical role in long-term memory formation by transporting RNA cargo to synapses. The research suggests that impairments in KIF5C could contribute to neurological disorders, such as intellectual disability and autism.
Researchers have discovered the crucial role of astrocytes in closing the period of brain plasticity following birth. Transplanting immature astrocytes into adult mice has been shown to reintroduce brain plasticity, suggesting a potential therapeutic strategy for rehabilitation after brain lesions or neurodevelopmental disorders.
Despite miniature brain size, baby orb weavers can create complex webs identical to those of adults. The study suggests flexibility in spider behavior despite neurological limitations.
Researchers at IST Austria discovered that key synapses in the hippocampus can send information in both directions, influencing pre-synaptic plasticity. The mossy fiber synapse adapts to the post-synaptic neuron's activity status, improving information storage in downstream networks.
The study reveals that shootin1a mechanically links polymerizing actin with cell adhesion molecules in dendritic spines, enhancing coupling and allowing structural plasticity. This finding is significant as changes in dendritic spine plasticity have been implicated in various neurological disorders.
Researchers developed a brain-like device with organic, electrochemical synaptic transistors that mimic human brain's short-term and long-term plasticity. The device can learn by association and overcome traditional computing limitations, such as energy consumption and limited multitasking capabilities.
A new study reveals that the long noncoding RNA ADEPTR is essential for structural plasticity in neurons, forming and amassing at the synapse upon stimulation. Silencing ADEPTR prevents new synapses from forming during stimulation, highlighting its crucial role in neural adaptation.
Researchers have identified a key pathway that regulates the transition of the brain from highly plastic to stable states in developing fruit fly larvae. This discovery has implications for understanding and potentially treating neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, schizophrenia, and epilepsy, which are linked to the failure to...
Researchers have discovered a phenomenon related to the invar effect, enabling paramagnetic alloys to maintain mechanical stability at high temperatures. This breakthrough discovery promises to advance the design of high-temperature alloys with exceptional properties.
Researchers found that graphene flakes can temporarily inhibit excitatory synapses, reducing anxiety-related responses in rats. The nanomaterial was injected into the lateral amygdala, a region of the brain associated with stress response, and successfully reversed long-lasting anxiety behaviors.
Researchers studied the fatigue properties of CrFeCoNi alloy produced by Laser-Powder Bed Fusion technique, revealing improvements in plasticity and extended fatigue life after annealing. The study aims to advance the use of high-entropy alloys in industries and mechanical engineering.
A study published in Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology reveals that RAPGEF2 protein overexpression leads to synaptic damage and cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease. Silencing RAPGEF2 prevents synapse loss and cognitive decline, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for neurodegenerative diseases.
A study by University of Chicago researchers found that some neurons in the brain can compensate for the loss of their neighboring neuron, a process known as synaptic plasticity. However, not all neurons have this capacity, and the remaining neuron's ability to compensate depends on its functional properties.
Researchers found that the brain's ability to recover and rewire itself peaks around two weeks after a stroke and diminishes over time. This 'window of opportunity' suggests that initiating therapy as soon as possible is crucial for effective recovery.
New research reveals that prenatal alcohol exposure impairs adult hippocampal neurogenesis in mice, while adult-generated neurons may contribute to recovery from alcohol dependence. The study suggests that targeting adult neurogenesis could lead to more effective treatment of alcohol use disorders.
Glutamate signaling is crucial for enabling synaptic plasticity, a process that restructures neural networks due to learning and memory acquisition. The new study demonstrates how glutamate works across synapses to activate this switch.
A new study reveals that specific enzymes outside medium spiny neurons contribute to addiction plasticity, driving drug-seeking and extinction behaviors. The discovery highlights the importance of extracellular matrix remodeling in addiction and suggests novel molecules as potential targets for treatment.
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.
In adult brains, astrocytes eliminate excessive and unnecessary synapses to maintain plasticity. This process is crucial for controlling synapse numbers and neural circuit maturation.
A POSTECH research team identified the mechanism behind neurological diseases such as dementia, autism, and schizophrenia. They found that BDNF regulates AMPA receptors, which are crucial for synaptic function in nerve cells. The study provides clues to treating development or degenerative brain diseases like autism and dementia.
Researchers found that shrews' brains reduce metabolic demands in winter by adapting neural structure and activity, including thinner layer 4 neurons and fewer parvalbumin-positive interneurons. These adaptations may help shrews conserve energy during winter.
Researchers at IRB Barcelona have developed a new method to regulate cell plasticity by inhibiting the protein CDK8, strengthening gene expression for specific cell identities while reducing alternative identities. This approach holds promise for improving chemotherapy reactions and studying embryonic stem cells.
A study by the University of Montreal has revealed the rules of synaptic plasticity, a process underlying learning and memory. The research found that dendritic spines, tiny protrusions on neurons, amplify or suppress incoming information based on its strength.
Researchers at UMass Amherst have identified a key protein component of the Hedgehog signaling pathway as an important player in phenotypic plasticity, allowing cells to sense and respond to environmental inputs. This finding provides insights into how genes and environment interact to shape anatomical traits.
A study by Heidelberg University and Max-Planck-Institute found that the distance to criticality can be adjusted in a brain-inspired chip, but only complex tasks benefit from it. Optimal network dynamics can be tuned using homeostatic plasticity by adapting mean input strength.
Researchers have discovered that neurons interact differently with the same muscle partner, revealing a previously unappreciated diversity in their propensity to respond to changes. The findings suggest that these subclasses of neurons exhibit distinct types of plasticity, which is essential for learning and memory.
Researchers found that activating specific receptors can induce synaptic plasticity without structural changes, challenging the long-held assumption about spine size and strength. The study provides a potential new avenue for treating Fragile X syndrome by targeting an unidentified protein promoting synapse shrinkage.
Researchers have discovered a possible physical trace of short-term memory, known as an engram, in the brain's synapses. The study found that vesicles containing neurotransmitters are stored at the pre-synaptic terminal after a granule cell fires, inducing plasticity and strengthening communication between neurons.
A research team led by Dr. Kea Joo Lee found that MAP2 plays a crucial role in inducing long-term potentiation, a cellular mechanism underlying learning and memory. The study's discovery provides key insights into synaptic plasticity mechanisms and potential therapeutic strategies for memory-related diseases.
Researchers found that degrading perineuronal nets improves learning abilities in mice but disrupts memory storage. Children's brains have flexible connections allowing for better learning and recovery from brain injury due to intact perineuronal nets.
Researchers found that younger females adapt their reproductive strategy based on the size of the carcass available, while older females consistently put high effort into reproduction. This age-dependent plasticity in parental care allows younger beetles to conserve resources for future reproductive opportunities.
Researchers have made a major breakthrough in understanding the genetics of Down syndrome by identifying a new mechanism involved in its expression. The study found that RCAN1, a gene overexpressed in Down syndrome brains, regulates synaptic plasticity, which affects learning and memory.
Researchers uncover a new layer of mystery in visual memory and amblyopia by revealing NMDA receptors' unexpected role. The study shows that plasticity underlying amblyopia occurs elsewhere in the brain than previously thought.
Scientists developed a novel self-powered e-skin capable of inducing a neural response, which can be controlled by photo illumination. The technology has potential applications in quantifying neural plasticity changes and developing novel neural-stimulation systems.
A proteoglycan, glypican (Dlp), negatively regulates type I synaptic bouton formation, postsynaptic GluRIIA expression, and larval locomotor speed. Decreases in Dlp expression increase non-canonical BMP signaling, leading to increases in GluRIIA expression, type I bouton number, and locomotion.
Researchers at Kyoto University discovered that Purkinje cell dendrites can filter and modulate incoming signals, enabling new learning mechanisms in the cerebellum. This finding provides insight into the brain's ability to modify itself and change signaling properties.
Scientists discovered that AMPA receptors continually form and disintegrate within a fraction of a second, allowing for novel mechanisms of synaptic plasticity to occur. This finding may lead to the development of new treatments for epilepsy by targeting specific subunit compositions in the brain.
A new study published in PLOS Computational Biology reveals the mechanisms of memory formation and learning in the brain. The research team analyzed neuronal circuits and synaptic plasticity to understand how the nervous system adapts to changing conditions.
The study found that BCI training alters specific regions of the brain involved in motor and visual tasks. This suggests potential therapeutic benefits for conditions like stroke rehabilitation. The changes occur within a short period, raising hopes for more efficient decoding of BCI activities.