Articles tagged with Cerebellum
A research team has identified a subset of cerebellar neurons that signal satiation after eating, leading to reduced food intake in mice. The findings suggest a novel target for therapies that could curb overeating and obesity.
Researchers at GIST create an optical technique called optical speckle image velocimetry that can image dynamic changes in cerebral blood flow, allowing for the diagnosis of brain health. The technique provides high-time resolution and measures both speed and direction of blood flow.
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 mapped genetic control elements of active genes in the mouse cerebellum, identifying over 200,000 control elements and a temporal pattern shared between different cell types. The study also shed light on the evolution of gene regulatory programmes in mammals.
A team of scientists has successfully developed an eyeblink test for pigs, a model species for studying nutritional neuroscience in human infants. The test assesses cognitive processing in the cerebellum and demonstrates associative learning in pigs.
The European Virtual Institute will study the neural basis of emotion using a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network, focusing on the role of the cerebellum in controlling emotions. The network aims to develop new therapeutic strategies for emotional disorders by combining fundamental and clinical research.
A study reveals significant epigenetic differences in the cerebellum of humans, chimpanzees, and monkeys, highlighting its importance in human brain evolution. The findings suggest that the cerebellum played a key role in the development of human culture, language, and tool use.
A study from the University of Eastern Finland found that adolescent binge drinking is associated with changes in the volume of the cerebellum in young adulthood. Heavy drinkers showed reduced posterior cerebellar lobules compared to light drinkers, affecting motor and cognitive functions.
Researchers have identified a genetic mutation linked to autism that affects brain function and development. The study found that the mutation impacts brain cells, leading to hyper-social behavior and learning disabilities in mice. This breakthrough could lead to new treatments targeting the cerebellum's neural processes.
A new study from CU Anschutz researchers has identified the cerebellum as a critical region for making fast `go-no go' decisions. The study used mice to investigate the molecular layer interneurons in the cerebellum, which were found to play a role in learning valence and determining whether something is good or not.
Scientists developed a new automated movement-tracking system, LocoMouse, to capture fine details of locomotion in mice. The study identified highly-detailed 'locomotor signatures' for two mouse models, providing a roadmap for linking neurological and locomotor deficits.
New research using ultra-high-field MRI reveals the cerebellum has a surface area equal to 80% of the cerebral cortex's surface area, challenging the long-held idea that it is smaller. This expansion is linked to human behavior and cognition evolution, enabling the processing of complex concepts like language and abstract reasoning.
Researchers used virtual reality to study how brain circuits respond to threats at different distances. They found that near threats engage survival circuitry, making them harder to extinguish, while distant threats are processed by higher-order thinking areas. This could lead to new therapies for PTSD.
A study published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research has identified a brain circuit that could indicate the risk of developing Alzheimer's. Researchers discovered that poor connectivity between the brainstem and cerebellum may be predictive of Alzheimer's risk, specifically targeting those with a family history.
Researchers identify excessive brain activity in the cerebellum as the source of essential tremor, a condition affecting 4% of people over 40. Using neuromodulation techniques, such as transcranial direct-current stimulation or drugs to reduce transmission between nerve cells, may provide new treatment options.
Researchers at the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience found that the cerebellum is involved in higher perceptual abilities beyond motor coordination. The discovery highlights the importance of functioning small brains in social cognition and suggests that problems with the cerebellum may impair aspects of this cognitive function.
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have discovered that stress hormones, such as corticosterone, play a crucial role in controlling the circadian rhythm of brain cells. By using test rats and a new method involving medical micropumps, they were able to restore the rhythmic activity of clock genes in the cerebellum even after t...
A new study published in Human Brain Mapping found that the cerebellum is not engaged during reading in both typical readers and children with dyslexia. The research suggests that difficulties in phonological processing, a key feature of dyslexia, are more closely related to brain regions in the left cortex.
A recent study by Kyoto University found that acute cerebellar inflammation causes 'depression-like' behavior in rats, characterized by decreased motivation and sociability. The research team discovered that microglia activation led to increased neuronal firing, causing the cerebellum to become hyperexcited.
Researchers at University of Bath created a mouse model for Joubert Syndrome by deleting portions of the Talpid3 gene, reproducing physical abnormalities and progressive ataxia in mice. The study aims to accelerate research into the disease and develop new treatments.
Researchers at Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience have revealed a special input pathway that codes sensory information in the Cerebellum. Climbing fibers are found to be responsible for conveying sensory information, with activity mirrored in Purkinje cells.
Scientists used a split-belt treadmill to study mouse locomotor learning and found that the brain separates spatial and temporal components of movement. The findings show similarities with human learning and suggest potential therapeutic approaches for people with asymmetric walking patterns.
A team of researchers has created the largest dataset of its type ever, mapping the relative levels of over 5,825 distinct proteins across six regions of the brain. The study reveals new molecular targets for Alzheimer's disease and identifies changes in the cerebellum that may protect it from damage caused by the disease.
The study found that the cerebellum influences reward processing and social behaviors, which could lead to new treatments for addiction. The researchers used optogenetics to activate cerebellar neurons connected to the ventral tegmental area (VTA), triggering pleasurable behaviors in mice.
The cerebellum, known for its motor coordination role, also plays a crucial role in regulating reward circuitry and social behavior. Researchers found a direct neural connection between the cerebellum and the ventral tegmental area (VTA), leading to increased activation and preference for rewards.
Research reveals an important cerebellar function in cognitive and emotional control, shedding light on connections between cerebellar damage and mental challenges. The study also identifies a direct pathway between the cerebellum and the ventral tegmental area, which regulates dopamine release.
A recent study found that the cerebellum plays a crucial role in cognitive functions, including short-term memory. The research team discovered that activity in the cerebellum during periods of stillness was linked to memory activity in both the frontal cortex and other parts of the brain.
Researchers mapped the regions of the brain in electric fish, finding that the cerebellum is bigger than expected and associated with their use of weak electric discharges. The study challenges the idea that big brains always mean big cerebellums, suggesting alternative explanations for brain evolution
Researchers discover cerebellum's involvement in higher-order cognition, including attention, thinking, planning, and decision-making. The cerebellum was found to be responsible for quality control over thoughts and actions, with 80% of its networks devoted to these functions.
Researchers discovered that cells in the cerebellum, or 'little brain', have unique metabolic needs. The study found that blocking an enzyme regulating mitochondria impairs cerebellar development more than other parts of the brain.
The Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI) awards Dr. Jason Christie $2,082,074 to investigate neural circuits in the cerebellum and their role in motor learning. The goal is to understand how neurons interact with each other to facilitate learning outcomes.
A new study discovered two clusters of abnormal cerebellum connectivity in young adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (HF-ASD), supporting a crucial role for the cerebellum in ASD. The finding highlights the cerebellum as a potential therapeutic and diagnostic target.
A study by Children's National Health System researchers found that chronic sublethal hypoxia causes locomotor miscoordination and long-term cerebellar learning deficits. Restoring GABA levels with an off-the-shelf medicine improves Purkinje cell firing and locomotor performance in a model of neonatal brain injury.
Researchers have identified a new role for inhibition in regulating motor learning in the cerebellum, finding that inhibitory cell class molecular layer interneurons play a key role in modulating plasticity and learning behavior. This discovery provides fundamental insights into neural computation and mechanisms underlying motor learning.
Researchers discovered a high infection rate of Purkinje neurons with HHV-6 in patients with bipolar disorder and/or severe depression. The study suggests viruses can cause cognitive disturbances leading to mood disorders, contradicting the belief that dormant viruses never cause disease.
Researchers found that boys with autism had lower fractal dimension in the right cerebellar cortex, indicating a flatter surface structure related to communication difficulties. This finding suggests rethinking the role of cerebellar function and structure in young individuals at risk for atypical brain development.
Researchers discovered a neural circuit in parrots that may underlie their intelligence, similar to the pontine nuclei found in primates. The medial spiriform nucleus, located in birds, is comparable in function to the pontine nuclei and plays a key role in higher-order processing and sophisticated behaviors.
Researchers at Emory University have discovered that GluN2C is rarely paired with another subunit, challenging current understanding of NMDA receptors. This finding has implications for developing treatments for diseases such as schizophrenia and treatment-resistant depression.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have made significant discoveries about the cerebellum's role in learning and prediction. By studying monkey brains, they found that Purkinje cells communicate through simple spikes (predictions) and complex spikes (error feedback), organizing into small groups to learn together.
A study published in Science Advances reveals significant differences in molecular machinery that turns on and off gene expression between cerebellum and prefrontal cortex. The research provides insights into the molecular apparatus involved in conscious thinking and may lead to the development of drugs to treat mental illnesses.
A new study found that faster mice run, the faster they learn. Researchers used mutant mice with reduced running speed to demonstrate the causal link between running speed and enhanced learning. They also showed that once learned, performance still depended on running speed.
Researchers modelled molecular basis of learning in cerebellum, a brain region coordinating voluntary movements. The study reveals communication must occur in both directions across synapses to control learning, with an automatic off-switch allowing the system to return to its resting state.
A study has identified a critical protein interaction that triggers the development of spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1), a rare neurodegenerative disease. The researchers found that polyQ-ATAXIN1 forms a complex with capicua, which disrupts gene expression and leads to neurodegeneration.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have made a breakthrough in treating autistic children with neuromodulation, which restored social impairments. The study found that stimulating a specific part of the cerebellum improved social behaviors in both mice and humans, offering new hope for autism treatment.
A study from Washington University School of Medicine found that a defective gene linked to autism influences how neurons connect and communicate in the brain. Mice lacking this gene formed more connections, leading to difficulties in learning and social interactions.
Researchers at Hokkaido University found that the GLAST molecule facilitates functional wiring of brain cells involved in motor coordination. Glutamate transporters, like GLAST, enable high-fidelity signal transmission between nerve cells.
A new study suggests that an eye test could be a useful tool in diagnosing Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) by assessing the ability of individuals to adapt saccade amplitudes. This test may indicate deficits in the brain's emotional and social development areas, which are often impaired in individuals with ASD.
A Duke University study found that individuals with multiple forms of mental illness exhibit differences in the cerebellum and pons brain regions. These findings suggest that targeting common mechanisms or risk factors could lead to better treatment outcomes.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine found that learning a new task involving the hands can also improve performance with the foot, as measured by changes in brain activity between the motor cortex and cerebellum. This study demonstrates the brain's ability to adapt and transfer motor knowledge across body parts.
A new computational model simulates the role of the brain in Tourette syndrome, suggesting that motor tics arise from interactions between multiple brain areas. The model predicts how dysfunctions in neural circuits can lead to an increased number of tics, which could aid in identifying new treatment targets.
A study from the University of Iowa Health Care found that cerebellar stimulation in rats with schizophrenia-like thinking problems restored normal brain activity in the frontal cortex and corrected timing deficits. The researchers used optogenetics to stimulate the rats' cerebellar region, which led to improved cognitive function.
Researchers discovered that neurons deep in the brain's cerebellum are highly active during learning, encoding both external and internal information. This finding may shift our understanding of how the cerebellum processes information.
A Washington State University researcher has identified a mechanism in the cerebellum of the brain that influences an animal's likelihood of heavy drinking. This discovery offers a potential new target for drug therapies aimed at reducing excessive alcohol consumption, particularly among problem drinkers.
A new genetic mutation in the CAPN1 gene has been identified as a cause of ataxia in humans and Parson Russell Terrier dogs. Calpain-1, an enzyme involved in brain development, is found to be neuroprotective, preventing excessive neuronal death.
Max Planck Florida scientists have optimized techniques for studying motor learning in neurons of the cerebellum, enabling prolonged assessment of neural activity. This breakthrough allows for further characterization of continuously engaged neurons during motor activity and normal behavior.
Researchers have discovered that complex brain divisions in vertebrates evolved before the emergence of jaws, contradicting previous assumptions. The study found similarities between jawless fish and jawed vertebrates in brain development patterns.
Researchers at VA Puget Sound Health Care System and University of Washington find chronic changes in neuron activity in specific brain regions with repeated blasts. Chronic brain damage can lead to emotional difficulties such as mood problems, irritability, and impulsivity in veterans.
Researchers at Rockefeller University have identified pivotal changes in epigenetic pathway genes required for forming the cerebellum's circuitry. The study reveals that specific epigenetic regulators are crucial for neuronal connections and ion channel expression.
Researchers at NCBS discovered that Purkinje cells have two modes of electrical signaling based on voltage: a constant 'up' state and a burst-like 'down' state. This allows the cells to choose whether to respond to instructions or not, and the study suggests that this mechanism may play a role in motor learning.
Researchers at McGill University discovered that a small cluster of brain cells in the cerebellum engage in elegant computations to quickly compare expected and actual sensory feedback. This allows neurons to rapidly readjust and form new patterns in the brain to accomplish tasks.