Articles tagged with Mammalian Cerebral Cortex
Dr. Xuyu Qian's pioneering research using MERFISH technology created an unprecedented developmental atlas of the human cerebral cortex, analyzing over 18 million single cells. His work aims to identify mechanisms disrupted in conditions like malformations and autism spectrum disorder.
Researchers have discovered a new type of brain cell in the medial entorhinal cortex that accurately predicts future locations as an animal travels. This discovery helps explain how planned spatial navigation is possible and has important implications for understanding mechanisms of spatial navigation and episodic memory formation.
Researchers have identified a universal blueprint for mammalian brain shape, describing the cerebral cortex as following a fractal pattern across species. The study suggests that cortices across primate species resemble this universal scaling law and self-similarity, revealing a common set of mechanisms governing cortical folding.
A team of Harvard researchers, led by Jeff Lichtman, has created the largest synaptic-resolution, 3D reconstruction of a piece of human brain to date. The dataset contains 1,400 terabytes of data on neural connections in a tiny piece of human temporal cortex.
Researchers found that brain waves are slower in deep cortical layers and faster in superficial layers, with gamma waves dominating the topmost layers. These oscillations may play a fundamental role in brain function and contribute to disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Researchers discovered that brain nerve networks are organized into interconnected modules to segregate and integrate inputs, enabling efficient processing. This modular architecture allows the brain to balance local activity with global integration, essential for information representation.
A recent study on canine brain networks has provided insights into the evolution of human brain function, revealing that the cingulate cortex played a central role in mammalian brain development. The research used fMRI to analyze brain activity in dogs and identified functional networks that differ from those in humans.
Researchers found that human neurons have a lower density of ion channels compared to other mammals, suggesting an evolutionary adaptation for energy efficiency. This difference in channel density may enable the human brain to allocate more resources to complex cognitive processes.
Researchers used two-photon imaging to study the activity of layer 6 neurons in mice, finding three distinct populations that reacted differently to visual stimulation. These neurons complement each other to regulate information flow from sensory organs to the cortex, influencing our ability to focus or lose attention.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have discovered a detailed blueprint for the development of the human cortex in the ancient lamprey brain, shifting its origin to over 500 million years ago.
Researchers at the Allen Institute have mapped the mouse brain's neural connections, revealing an underlying hierarchy of brain circuitry. The study provides a detailed view of how neurons communicate with each other and offers insights into diseases such as Alzheimer's and schizophrenia.
Researchers at UC San Francisco discovered a second visual system in the mouse cerebral cortex, challenging 75-year-old dogma of mammalian vision. The post-rhinal cortex (POR) obtains visual data directly from the superior colliculus, an evolutionarily ancient sensory processing center.
The motor cortex is essential for executing corrective movements in response to unexpected changes of sensory input, but not when movements are executed spontaneously. Neuronal activity patterns in the motor cortex differ between these two scenarios.
Researchers found that pigeons can switch between two tasks as quickly as humans, with a slight advantage in some cases. The key to this advantage lies in the dense packing of neurons in the avian brain, allowing for faster information processing and task switching.
Research from Newcastle University found that aging brains lose their youthful folding pattern due to decreasing cortical tension. The study provides a new method for measuring brain folding and could help diagnose Alzheimer's disease.
A recent study published in PLOS Biology suggests that larger brains are more susceptible to mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease due to weaker long-distance connections. The researchers found that the global architecture of cortical networks in primates and rodents follows common principles, with primate brai...
A recent study by Brown University neuroscientists has shed light on the brain's cycle of activity and quiet called "up" and "down" states. The research found that all types of interneurons contribute uniquely to these cycles, with inhibitory cells playing a vital role in maintaining balance between excitation and inhibition.
The study reveals that the mammalian cerebral cortex is organized into eight distinct subnetworks, which are relatively segregated and highly interconnected. These subnetworks facilitate motor behaviors such as eating and drinking, reaching and grabbing, locomotion and exploration of the environment.
Researchers can now study neuronal activity in deepest layers of the cortex, gaining insights into decision-making and object perception. The technique enables measurement of spatiotemporal organization of activity in these deep layers.
Researchers used a new virus-based technique to map individual nerve pathways in mice and found significant diversity in how the olfactory system is wired. This suggests that each person's unique wiring may contribute to their distinct olfactory experiences, raising questions about how humans perceive smells.
Scientists are studying the mechanics of brain folding in higher mammals to better understand its relationship with cognitive ability and neurological diseases. They have found that tension in axons may play a key role in driving this process, which could lead to new insights into conditions such as schizophrenia and autism.