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This shows a woman sniffing a glass of wine.

·October 31, 2023·3 min read

How Neurons Help Decipher Wine Aromas and Other Scents

Scientists unraveled how animals differentiate distinct scents, even those that seem remarkably similar. While some neurons consistently identify differing smells, others respond unpredictably, aiding in distinguishing nuanced aromas over time.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·October 4, 2023·4 min read

Single Protein Rewires the Brain to Adapt to Motherhood

The presence of the MECP2 protein in parvalbumin (PV) neurons is crucial for newly-mothering mice to rapidly learn and respond to their pups’ distress cries, hinting at how the brain rewires during pivotal adult learning phases. When MECP2 is absent, maternal mice show neglectful behavior toward their young, illuminating how the protein’s dysfunction could contribute to communication and interpretation deficits in neurodevelopmental disorders like Rett syndrome in humans.

This shows the outline of a dad, his child, and DNA.

Autism Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·May 22, 2023·3 min read

Unexpected Genetic Influence of Fathers in Autism

Researchers provide new insight into the genetic origins of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The study suggests that, contrary to long-standing beliefs, siblings with ASD may share more of their father's genome. The investigation involved analysis of over 6,000 volunteer families' genomes, revealing a potential new source of ASD.

Brain Cancer Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·April 10, 2023·3 min read

Identifying Cancer Genes’ Multiple Personalities

A new method using the gene-editing tool CRISPR-Cas9 has been developed to model liver cancer tumor subtypes caused by mutations in the same genes. By targeting a single section of the mouse gene, Ctnnb1, researchers were able to produce two distinct tumor subtypes, enhancing protein activity to promote tumor growth, which could allow for the development of new therapeutic interventions in the future.

This is a cross section of a mouse brain

Featured Neuroscience

·April 5, 2023·4 min read

Danger or Pleasure? How We Learn to Tell the Difference

Scientists have discovered that somatostatin-expressing neurons in the amygdala help distinguish between good and bad stimuli, responding differently to rewards versus punishments and even different types of rewards. Inhibiting these neurons in mice resulted in an inability to learn to associate sounds with rewards or punishments, providing potential insight into addiction and opportunities for new treatments.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·March 30, 2023·3 min read

Genome Analysis Just Got Personal

Researchers are leading the effort to understand the human genome on an individual level, identifying the specific genetic mutations that lead to illness based on the patient's own genome.

This shows a rendering of an NMDA receptor

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 2, 2022·3 min read

A New Look at Brain Function and Psychiatric Disorders

Researchers have revealed the 3D structure of NMDA receptor molecules that are critical for brain health. NMDA receptors are believed to contribute to a range of neurological and psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, depression, stroke, and Alzheimer's disease. The new model could help with the development of novel treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders.

Featured Neuroscience

·October 31, 2022·4 min read

Mapping the Path From Smell to Perception

A new brain map charts the way sensory information is routed between olfactory-processing areas of the brain.

Featured Neuroscience

·October 20, 2022·3 min read

Got Junk Food on the Brain? These Cells May Be to Blame

Researchers identified a group of neurons in the amygdala which are responsible for hedonic eating.

This shows mitral and tufted cells in the olfactory corte

Featured Neuroscience

·September 30, 2022·3 min read

Sniffing Out the Brain’s Smelling Power

In the olfactory system, tufted cells are better at recognizing smells than mitral cells. Tufted cells are one of two parallel neural circuit loops that help the brain process different odor features. The findings shed light on how the brain takes in sensory information that influences behavior and emotion.

Featured Neuroscience

·September 28, 2022·2 min read

The Unexpected Cells Helping to Shape Young Brains

During brain development, oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) contribute to the neural pruning process, helping to shape the healthy development of the brain.