Articles tagged with Synaptic Plasticity
Researchers found organised 'hand-like' maps of toes in the brains of professional foot painters, as they used their feet similarly to how people use hands. The study demonstrates an extreme example of brain plasticity and suggests that all people may have innate capacity for forming such maps.
Researchers found that controlling inflammation can increase the effectiveness of antidepressant drugs by promoting neural plasticity. In mice studies, fluoxetine reduced inflammation when housed in a stressful environment, but not in a relaxing one.
Researchers found that species with high adaptability tend to have longer lifespans, as they can better cope with environmental changes. The study also discovered that reversible phenotypic plasticity, where individuals can switch between different traits, is key to survival in changing environments.
Researchers at UNIGE show that human pancreatic cells can be converted to produce insulin in a sustainable way, potentially compensating for lost or dysfunctional cells. The conversion was successful in both diabetic and non-diabetic donors, with modified alpha cells showing improved resistance to autoimmune diabetes.
Research at the University of Göttingen found that mice growing up in stimulating environments transmit increased brain plasticity to their offspring, even if the young mice were raised in less enriching conditions. This transgenerational transmission affects primary sensory areas of the cerebral cortex.
A study found that mice raised in an enriched environment with social interaction and mental stimulation can transmit the brain benefits to their offspring through changes in gene expression. Despite being raised in the same impoverished environment, the offspring maintained lifelong visual cortex plasticity.
Scientists at Tufts University have discovered a new molecular mechanism that controls brain plasticity, which they can target to restore it in aged brains. By focusing on specific nerve cell connections, researchers may develop treatments with reduced side effects for conditions like autism and stroke.
Researchers found that amorphous solids can be truly elastic and reversible for small strains, but become marginally stable with infinitesimal deformations, exhibiting both elastic and plastic behavior
Lisa Giocomo and Christopher Harvey, recognized for their novel insights into spatial perception and synaptic specificity of neural plasticity, have made strides in bridging molecular processes with cognitive function. Their work has the potential to provide new applications of tools and techniques in systems neuroscience.
A new study suggests that our brains can rewire and change in response to new experiences, even when we're not consciously forming new memories. This process of plasticity enables us to better perceive and interpret the world, with potential implications for brain disorders such as autism and schizophrenia.
Astrocytes play an unexpected role in brain plasticity by secreting the protein Chrdl1, which enables the brain's maturation and regulates its flexibility. This discovery could lead to ways to restore lost connections due to aging or trauma.
Researchers found that homeostatic synaptic plasticity (HSP) facilitates Hebbian plasticity, enhancing memory formation and learning. HSP helps maintain a stable level of activity in synapses, allowing the brain to store information while keeping it accessible.
Researchers developed targeted plasticity therapy (TPT) to pair physical movements with vagus nerve stimulation, accelerating brain reorganization and recovery. The study found TPT to be twice as effective as traditional rehabilitation alone in doubling upper limb recovery rates.
Researchers at McGill University found that aging brains retain neuroplasticity but experience dysregulation leading to unstable learning. Increasing GABA levels in older rats prolonged the effects of audio tone exposure, suggesting a potential strategy for improving retention in the aging brain.
A new study found that antidepressants can restore lost plasticity in the brain's inhibitory neurons, which are less flexible with age. The researchers showed that fluoxetine, a commonly used antidepressant, can reverse age-related declines in structural and functional plasticity.
PKC alpha integrates two signaling pathways to process information at the single spine level, enabling complex processing of information. Mice lacking PKC alpha take longer to learn tasks but eventually catch up with intact PKC alpha.
Research shows that synapse-specific plasticity is necessary and sufficient for associative fear memory storage, guaranteeing uniqueness to the memory trace. This process enables the selective erasure of fear memory from an engram network without affecting other memories stored in the same ensemble.
Researchers found that when one synapse strengthens, neighboring synapses weaken due to the action of a crucial protein called Arc. This balance is essential for maintaining healthy neural activity and function. The discovery provides new insights into how brain plasticity works in complex systems.
An international study found that brain phosphorylation, a molecular process, is linked to sleep need. The researchers identified 80 proteins, or SNIPPs, that accumulate phosphate groups in the brain during wakefulness, and their levels decrease during sleep.
A new study found psychedelics, such as DOI, DMT, and LSD, increase dendritic spines and synapses in neurons, promoting neural plasticity. This effect is similar across species, including humans, and may lead to the development of depression treatments.
A study by University of California - Davis researchers finds that psychedelic drugs increase dendritic branches and spines, promoting neural plasticity. This structural change mirrors the effects of ketamine, a treatment-resistant antidepressant.
Amyloid peptides prevent CamKII from participating in synaptic plasticity, leading to synapse loss and cognitive deficiencies. Researchers aim to understand the molecular mechanism behind amyloid aggregate interactions with CamKII to develop potential treatments for early Alzheimer's disease.
A new study reveals that the protein RGS14 functions as a molecular brake on learning and memory by regulating calcium levels in the hippocampus. The researchers found that RGS14 limits plasticity in CA2 neurons, which are less adaptable than neighboring CA1 neurons.
A new study found that administering edonerpic maleate, a small molecule targeting CRMP2, significantly improved the ability of mice and monkeys to regain motor function after a stroke. Early clinical trial results suggest the drug is safe in humans, offering a potential breakthrough for stroke recovery.
Researchers at MIT's Picower Institute identified the MVP gene as essential for homeostatic plasticity in neurons with 16p11.2 deletion syndrome, a common genetic cause of autism. The study found that reduced MVP levels disrupted neural circuit adjustments to experience, leading to impaired learning and memory.
Researchers found that invasive cane toads can rapidly adjust their thermal tolerance in response to cool conditions, a trait present in two cool-climate populations from Australia and Hawaii. This discovery has significant implications for predicting the spread of invasive species.
The Biophysical Society has announced its new and notable symposium speakers for the 62nd Annual Meeting. The session will feature cutting-edge research on ultrafast glutamate sensors, dynamic chromatin fibers, and more. The meeting will take place from February 17-21, 2018.
A recent study by Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience researchers found that neighboring dendritic spines within a few micrometers of each other share similar functional properties, regardless of the diversity of sensory features they encode. This discovery suggests that local order in dendritic spine functional properties ma...
A CAMH study found that people with early Alzheimer's disease have lower brain plasticity in the frontal lobes, leading to poorer working memory and recall ability. Researchers believe impaired brain plasticity may be a future target for treatment or prevention of dementia.
Scientists in Bordeaux discovered a new mechanism for storing information in synapses and controlling the storage process. They found that halting receptor movement can block the acquisition of certain types of memories, confirming the role of synaptic plasticity.
Researchers at the University of Bristol discovered a family of proteins controlling brain connectivity through multiple checkpoints. This discovery could lead to new therapies targeting conditions like autism and epilepsy by regulating neuronal circuits.
Researchers have developed a new learning algorithm that mimics the human brain's ability to forget unimportant memories, enabling computers to learn and forget in a proper way. This technology, called organismoids, uses quantum materials to create devices that can adapt and change their behavior over time.
A study found that visually stimulated cross-modal activation of auditory brain regions in deaf individuals improved speech comprehension after cochlear implantation. Auditory cortex activation developed in tandem with both auditory and visual speech following implantation, suggesting a positive effect on hearing restoration.
Researchers at University of Utah Health successfully rejuvenated the plasticity of adult mouse brains, specifically in the visual cortex, by triggering a shift with a single gene. This breakthrough suggests a potential target for new treatments that could recover brain youthful potential and reduce cognitive decline with aging.
Researchers at King's College London have discovered a molecular mechanism that enables neurons to adapt to their environment, shaping learning and memory formation. The study reveals that Brevican protein plays a critical role in regulating experience-dependent plasticity, influencing the intrinsic properties of PV+ interneurons and s...
Researchers argue that synaptic plasticity and intrinsic plasticity are crucial in forming physical memory traces in the brain. Intrinsic plasticity plays an important role in adapting to new information and experiences, often without changes to connections between neurons.
Researchers discovered that dendritic mitochondrial flash, also known as 'mitoflash,' is essential for converting short-term memories into long-term ones. The study revealed that mitoflash facilitates the transition from short-term to long-term synaptic potentiation through a bi-directional interaction between mitochondria and synapses.
Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience researchers optimized imaging methods to visualize CaMKII activation induced by calcium level increases. They found that CaMKII activity spiked in response to each pulse, just like calcium, but with longer-lasting and step-wise patterns that influenced synapse strength and structure.
Researchers at Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience developed a photo-inducible CaMKII inhibitor to study intracellular signaling cascades. The tool revealed that CaMKII activation persists for approximately 1 minute, contradicting previous studies, and is necessary only for short periods of time for LTP and animal learning.
Scientists at Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience created new molecular biosensors to study the activity of ERK and PKA proteins in dendritic spines. The team found that these proteins' activity spreads along the length of the dendrite, influencing nearby spines.
Scientists at Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience have discovered a novel molecular mechanism behind short-term neuronal plasticity, which may impact motor control. The study found that analog-to-digital facilitation occurs more readily in juvenile brains and depends on Kv3 channel inactivation.
Research validates PLCgamma1 as a promising candidate gene for bipolar disorder, linking it to manic-like behavior and synaptic imbalance. The study reveals that loss of PLCgamma1 from forebrain leads to behavioral abnormalities and manic episodes.
Researchers at Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience developed a new software to automate the process of observing and quantifying long-term structural plasticity in dendritic spines. The software allows for efficient imaging and stimulation of multiple dendritic spines simultaneously, increasing productivity and reducing costs.
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory demonstrate how MECP2 mutations impair adult learning in female mice. They show that normal MECP2 gene expression is required for learning a natural behavior, and that impaired MECP2 expression causes a cascade of molecular failures leading to neural plasticity deficits.
Scientists at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center have identified gatekeeper genes that allow prostate cancer to progress and resist treatment. The study highlights opportunities to prevent or reverse this process, offering new insights into lineage plasticity and its application in other types of cancers.
Kosik's research suggests that dendrites use a relatively small number of RNAs to leverage increased dynamic range, allowing for sparse coding and plasticity. This enables the brain to process incoming information more efficiently and adapt to new experiences.
A new study suggests that reduced neural adaptation in people with dyslexia may underlie their difficulty learning to read. This reduced plasticity affects not only reading but also other perceptual tasks, indicating a broader impact on the brain.
A recent study published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience found that physical exercise can help preserve adult visual plasticity in mice and restore it after a stroke. This suggests that exercise may be used as a preventive or therapeutic approach to aid recovery after a cortical stroke.
Researchers used brain-machine interface training to investigate phantom limb pain and found that changes in cortical plasticity, rather than motor function, are key to reducing pain. This approach shows promise for treating chronic pain conditions, including phantom limb pain and residual surgery pain.
A new study published in Nature reveals that the visual cortex is involved in promoting plasticity of innate eye movements. Researchers used optogenetics to silence the visual cortex and observed a significant reduction in the activity of the optokinetic reflex, suggesting its role in mediating plasticity between the two reflexes.
Researchers have identified an autocrine signaling system within single dendritic spines, leading to spine enlargement and activation of signaling molecules. The findings reveal a three-molecule model of structural plasticity, implicating the localized, coincident activation of Rac1, Cdc42, and RhoA proteins.
POSTECH researchers developed an organic nanofiber-based artificial synapse that emulates both important functions and energy consumption of biological synapses. The device enables high memory density and low energy consumption, potentially leading to advancements in AI computing and neuromorphic electronics.
Researchers at IST Austria identified a new learning rule that strengthens connections between neurons in the CA3 region of the hippocampus, even when neurons fire in reverse order. This discovery may explain robust learning and storage of spatial information in the brain.
A new study reveals that pool frog tadpoles in Sweden grow faster under warm conditions, allowing them to complete their life cycle at high latitudes. This adaptation enables the species to survive in cold climates by maximizing growth during short periods of high temperatures.
A new study has found that neuroligin-2 may contribute to chronic pain by disrupting the body's inhibitory networks. This discovery provides a second theory for what drives the GABAergic system's loss of efficacy in people with chronic pain.
A study published in Current Biology found that individuals with anxiety exhibit over-generalization, mistaking new tones for previously associated ones. Brain imaging revealed altered brain responses in regions related to fear and sensory processing.
Researchers at Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute found that brain cells change through experiences like learning and emotions, forming functional networks.
A Tel Aviv University study finds IGF-1R plays a vital role in regulating hippocampal neural circuits and processing information. The research suggests that IGF-1R small inhibitors may be a potential direction for therapy to treat early-stage Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers have identified PTEN as a key player in Alzheimer's disease, where it drives excessive synaptic plasticity and impairs memory formation. A new study offers a promising approach to prevent this process, using a molecular tool that shields synapses from PTEN recruitment.
The special issue of Current Opinion in Neurobiology delves into various aspects of brain plasticity, from language development at birth to cognitive flexibility associated with bilingualism. The journal features expert reviews that connect different fields of research and explore the role of artificial intelligence.