Articles tagged with Neural Pathways
A newly identified link between chronic pain and lung cancer in mice suggests that old drugs such as clonidine, capsaicin, and fluphenazine may offer new treatments for chronic pain. The study found that blocking the BH4 pathway reduced pain sensitivity and decreased tumor growth in mouse models of KRAS-driven lung cancer.
A new map of brain stem circuits controlling eating behavior could lead to better obesity treatments. The atlas, built from recent discoveries in mice and human studies, identifies two food intake-suppressing circuits in the brain stem, one causing nausea and another not.
A study from MIT neuroscientists has identified a population of neurons in the visual cortex that respond to images of food. The researchers found four previously known populations and a fifth, more surprising population that appears to be selective for food images. This finding may reflect the special importance of food in human culture.
A new study has partly restored the function of retina's cone receptors in two completely colorblind children using gene therapy. The treatment has been shown to activate previously dormant communication pathways between the retina and brain, drawing on the plastic nature of the developing adolescent brain.
Research led by Drs. Yuhai Zhao and Walter J Lukiw reports a pathway from the gut to the brain that contributes to Alzheimer's disease development. Adequate dietary fiber intake can prevent this process. The study suggests a potential means to modify the abundance of microbes in the microbiome.
Researchers discovered that brain-robot interfaces can reroute motor pathways around damaged areas in stroke patients, allowing for improved hand function and control. This breakthrough technology uses proprioceptive feedback to enhance communication between the brain and muscles.
Researchers identified regions in the cerebral cortex and thalamus with high bidirectional connections, which are thought to be essential for consciousness. The findings support the idea that these networks are key to pinpointing the location of consciousness.
Scientists from the University of Tsukuba discovered that the lateral habenula brain region plays a crucial role in amplifying aggressive behavior in response to social interactions. Blocking this pathway eliminated increased aggression caused by social instigation, highlighting its significance in promoting aggressive arousal.
A research team has won the NIH's Neuromod Prize for their innovative approach to spinal stimulation, which uses autonomic neuromodulation to regulate nervous system activity. The breakthrough could lead to improved autonomy and daily functioning for people with spinal cord injuries.
Researchers at Hokkaido University have discovered a molecular pathway by which stress affects lupus, revealing a potential target for treatment. The study found that sleep deprivation caused the activation of microglial cells in the brain, leading to increased levels of IL12 and IL23, a diagnostic marker for neuropsychiatric SLE.
Scientists at Brown University used functional MRI to reveal a brain pathway that processes light-intensity signals, which can modulate the prefrontal cortex and affect mood. The study found that light suppresses activity in the prefrontal cortex in proportion to its intensity.
Researchers developed a technology that uses surviving neurons to restore connection between brain and arm via specific stimulation pulses to the spinal cord. This allowed macaque monkeys with partial arm paralysis to improve precision, force, and range of movement in their arms.
Researchers describe a mechanism by which inhibitory neurons in a specific brain region suppress nausea-causing excitatory neurons. Activating these inhibitory neurons with the chemical messenger GIP eliminates nausea behaviors in mice, offering an alternative approach to reducing nausea.
New research from University of South Australia and Flinders University uses retina recordings to identify distinct signals for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), providing a potential biomarker for each condition. Children with ADHD showed higher overall energy, while those with ASD sho...
Researchers used AI to compare brain images of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder to computer-generated simulations, revealing links between brain anatomy and symptoms. The discovery could help understand ASD causes and develop targeted interventions.
Researchers have untangled the intricate physics and neural controls that enable dragonflies to right themselves while falling. They found that vision plays a key role in initiating the righting reflex, which triggers a series of reflexes that send neural signals to the wings.
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.
A new study published in Bioelectronic Medicine found that high-frequency spinal cord stimulation (HF-SCS) was more effective at improving perceived pain reduction than low-frequency SCS (LF-SCS). HF-SCS also showed less subsequent use of opioids to mitigate pain.
Chronic pain causes maladaptive emotional states and is often comorbid with psychiatric disorders. Researchers identified the neuronal circuit involved in chronic pain-induced anxiety in mice, finding that restoring its activity attenuates anxiety.
Researchers at UT Health San Antonio have identified a novel mechanism by which tau protein causes neurons to die, which can be altered pharmacologically. This discovery provides a new framework for studying vertebrate models of tauopathy and eventually clinical trials.
Researchers at Weizmann Institute of Science discover a new neuroprotective pathway linked to mutations in the IL18RAP gene, located in noncoding DNA. These protective mutations reduce inflammation and slow disease progression in ALS patients by nearly fivefold.
A GE Research-led team has demonstrated the ability to prevent or reverse diabetes in preclinical model systems using ultrasound-based bioelectronic medicine. The team's findings, published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, represent a significant milestone in this field and pave the way for future clinical translation.
Researchers are combining optogenetics and fMRI to study the links between brain activity and behavior. This hybrid approach allows for targeted manipulation and monitoring of brain function in awake and behaving rodents, providing valuable insights into neural mechanisms.
Researchers at Flinders University have discovered how enterochromaffin cells in the gut communicate with the brain and spinal cord, shedding light on the 'gut-brain axis'. The study reveals that these specialized cells release serotonin into the body, which acts on nerves to communicate with the brain.
When the eyes land on a face, certain cells in the amygdala react and trigger memory-making activity. Theta wave activity is also reset or restarted, preparing the hippocampus to receive new socially relevant information.
Researchers developed a system using facial expressions to manipulate objects in virtual reality environments, outperforming handheld controllers in terms of immersion. The technique has potential applications for people with disabilities, including amputees and those with motor neurone disease, allowing hands-free interactions.
A recent study by researchers from Ritsumeikan University found that athletes with a history of sprained ankle showed reduced gut bacteria diversity compared to those without such a history. This suggests that musculoskeletal injury may have a negative impact on the gut microbiota, potentially leading to long-term health consequences.
Sea urchin larvae exhibit a cilia-based response and swim backward when exposed to strong irradiation, revealing a subtle yet crucial mechanism in the evolution of light-responsive tissues. This finding provides insights into the diversification of light-response systems and may have implications for understanding human behavior or fee...
Scientists at Washington State University have discovered a novel theory that the innate immune system can respond differently to specific pathogens. This quality, known as immunological specificity, is driven by the nervous system and could provide a basis for finetuning an experimental treatment to fight infection.
A study by the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience has identified a new neural mechanism of habit formation, showing that striatal dopamine signals are region-specific and temporally stable across action-sequence habit formation. This finding challenges traditional theories on dopamine signaling in habit development.
A new study by Georgia Tech researchers has found a novel pathway for understanding why debilitating side effects occur with cancer treatment. The findings suggest that the central nervous system is vulnerable to cancer treatment's adverse effects, and correcting any one may not be enough to improve human function and quality of life.
Researchers found that delirium and spatial neglect are associated with widespread dysfunction of brain networks, including arousal, attention, and spatial orientation. This imbalance may contribute to chronic cognitive decline after stroke.
Researchers at Salk Institute discovered that neurons deep in the brain's cortex process information from borders first, then send clues back to upstream areas. This supports the importance of the 'feedback' pathway for deciphering borders.
Researchers found that people with ALS have higher levels of arachidonic acid, a lipid involved in inflammation, and that tampering with this pathway can reduce muscle-weakening symptoms. The study suggests that targeting the arachidonic acid pathway may offer potential new therapies for Lou Gehrig's disease.
A new Dartmouth study found that a neural code shared across brains is responsible for recognizing familiar faces, including social and personal information. The study used hyperalignment to align brain responses into a common space, revealing high decoding accuracy in areas outside of visual processing.
A recent study by Amber Alhadeff has uncovered a hypothalamic-to-hindbrain circuit that suppresses pain sensation in hungry mice, enabling them to seek food. The research also highlights the rapid communication between gut nutrients and brain via an understudied pathway.
A first-in-human study at Cleveland Clinic found that targeting the dentate nucleus with deep brain stimulation was safe and feasible for promoting post-stroke rehabilitation, enabling significant functional improvement in upper extremity hemiparesis. The study's adaptive design allowed for extended treatment duration if patients conti...
Researchers have made progress in creating a brain atlas of the mouse brain, which will help develop tools for studying the human brain. The study describes the diversity of neurons in the mouse brain and establishes new methods for characterizing cell types and neural connections.
Scientists at the University of California San Diego have discovered that planar cell polarity is a widely used mechanism for forming and maintaining glutamatergic synapses. The study found that Prickle protein plays a crucial role in stabilizing these synapses, which are essential for neuronal communication.
A new study shows that a four-week psychological treatment called Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) can provide potent and durable relief for chronic back pain in two-thirds of patients. The treatment alters brain networks associated with pain processing, reducing symptoms that last for up to one year.
A team of researchers at the Marine Biological Laboratory has developed a system called HySyn, which uses neuropeptides from Hydra to synthetically reconnect neural circuits in the C. elegans brain. This allows for the creation of an artificial synapse that rewires a behavioral circuit, enabling the worm to communicate more effectively.
A study by Boston University researcher Jennifer Zuk found that the brain's organizational pathways, known as white matter, set a foundation for language learning abilities within the first year of life. This is reflected in children born with higher indications of white matter organization having better language skills five years later.
Researchers discovered that a brain area traditionally thought to specialize in old habits also plays a role in learning new actions. The study found that the dorsolateral striatum is involved in consolidating action learning immediately after the new action has been learned.
Researchers found that auditory and speech processing occur in parallel, with areas of the STG responding as fast as the primary auditory cortex when sentences were played. This challenges the traditional hierarchy model of speech processing and may offer new insights into conditions like dyslexia.
A study from the University of South Carolina's Environmental Health & Disease Laboratory found that andrographolide successfully restored bacteriomes and viromes, increasing beneficial bacteria and decreasing harmful bacteria. The treatment also decreased gut inflammation and neuroinflammation in veterans with Gulf War Illness.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a model of how internal states and external stimuli shape the behavior of hydra, a tiny, jellyfish-like creature. By studying their neural networks, scientists can gain insights into fundamental principles that may apply to more complex animals.
Research highlights the connection between discrimination and altered gut microbiomes, which can impact metabolic and immune functions. The study's authors emphasize the need for further investigation into the relationship between the human gut microbiome and health inequities.
A new study found that the brain's neural representation of a familiar face strengthens faster when viewing someone in person. The type of exposure affected how much the signal changed, with in-person interactions strengthening it the most.
Researchers identified specific neural circuits in the basal ganglia linked to motor and non-motor Parkinson's symptoms. The findings provide a novel framework for understanding disease progression and may lead to more precise therapeutic strategies.
Research published in British Journal of Ophthalmology found that normal-tension glaucoma is associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment and possibly dementia. The study suggests that the disease pathways for normal-tension glaucoma may be similar to those for dementia.
Researchers have identified a neuroprotective pathway that sustains the nucleocytoplasmic RAN gradient, suppressing Lou Gehrig's Disease. The LSM12-EPAC1 pathway normalizes abnormal RAN concentration differences, restoring cellular function.
Research using neuroimaging found that white conservatives exhibit higher sensitivity to racial ambiguity in the anterior insula, leading them to overcategorize mixed-race faces as Black. This effect is linked to an affective reaction to racial mixing rather than a sensitivity to Blackness.
Researchers found that electroacupuncture can significantly reduce pro-inflammatory molecule levels and increase survival rates in mice with a life-threatening inflammatory condition. The treatment worked by exciting norepinephrine-producing nerves, which activated receptors that suppressed inflammation.
Research reveals that people struggle to differentiate between outgroup faces due to visual processing quirks. The brain's fusiform facial area responds similarly to same and new black faces, impairing ability to tell them apart
Researchers discovered that influenza H1N1 blocks protein degradation pathways, inducing alpha-synuclein and DISC1 protein aggregates. Increased expression levels of these proteins were found in murine brains after H1N1 infection.
Research shows adolescents struggling with mental health issues have distinct neural connections that affect cognitive control and attention. The study provides new insights into the brain development of adolescents with mental health problems, potentially informing diagnosis and treatment.
Researchers identified a cluster of 38 neurons in the hindbrain that mediate delayed escape responses in zebrafish, characterized by flexible trajectories. This circuit may represent an evolutionarily ancient pathway for defensive responses to threats sensed via acoustic or vibrational cues.
Conceptual knowledge affects emotion perception and brain's face representation, with neural similarity predicted by individual conceptual similarities. The right fusiform gyrus plays a role in this process.
A new cellular mechanism for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has been identified, suggesting a novel therapeutic strategy targeting the RNA degradation pathway. Researchers also found that an asthma drug called Tranilast could potentially rescue cells and fruit flies from C9orf72-induced neurotoxicity.
Scientists at the University of Maryland School of Medicine discovered changes in brain activity linked to the brain's reward memory response in depression. The research found that the strength of signals between two brain regions is critical for processing rewarding stimuli.