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A newly discovered role for tension wood: the “muscle” trees use to correct their posture

Plants use proprioception to control their posture and maintain a straight shape, utilizing tension wood as a muscle-like structure that can bend and straighten. This complex biological process is regulated at the cellular level and unfolds through several stages, governed by the plant's proprioception.

After spinal cord injury, kinesthetic sense helps restore movement, model suggests

A new study reveals that lampreys use body-sensing feedback to regain swimming abilities after spinal injury, challenging the conventional view of neural regeneration. Mathematical models suggest that this technique could be applied to humans with spinal injuries or diseases affecting movement.

SourceMarine Biological Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 31, 2023

Skin-inspired sensors show how our body moves

Scientists at the University of Groningen developed wearable, stitchable, and sensitive sensors from flexible polymers and carbon fibre. These sensors can measure body position, movement, and touch, offering new possibilities for health monitoring and athlete performance tracking.

SourceUniversity of Groningen·Journalnpj Flexible Electronics·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 21, 2021

Magic helps unmask how the brain works

Researchers at the University of Delaware used a new mirror box illusion to study how the brain processes multiple sensory inputs. The study found that the brain uses biomechanical constraints from the body schema to resolve conflicts between senses, with vision typically ruling but also considering additional information.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 1, 2017