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dopamine

The image shows an over-sized terminal forms a synapse with a dendritic spine. The caption best describes the image.

·February 7, 2013·3 min read

Excess Protein Linked to Development of Parkinson’s Disease

Researchers suggest the overexpression of a protein called alpha-synuclein appears to disrupt vital recycling processes in neurons. The study may have major implications for more fully understanding the causes and mechanisms of Parkinson’s disease.

The image shows the structure of protein LRRK2.

Featured Genetics

·February 6, 2013·4 min read

Study Points to Possible Cause and Treatment for Non-familial Parkinson’s

Researchers identify a protein trafficking defect within brain cells that may underlie common non-familial forms of Parkinson’s disease. The study implicates two genetic variants that disrupt protein sorting in neurons.

The image shows Seth Tomchik, Ph.D, the lead researcher of this study.

Featured Neuroscience

·January 29, 2013·2 min read

Study Shows how Brain Cells Shape Temperature Preferences

A new study shows a complex set of overlapping neuronal circuits works in concert to drive temperature preferences in the fruit fly Drosophila by affecting a single target, a heavy bundle of neurons within the fly brain known as the mushroom body. These nerve bundles play critical roles in learning and memory.

Cytochrome P450 2D6 structure in a 3-D rendering

Featured Neurology

·January 18, 2013·3 min read

Penn Vet Study Reveals a Promising New Target for Parkinson’s Disease Therapies

With a new insight into a model of Parkinson’s disease, researchers have identified a novel target for mitigating some of the disease’s toll on the brain.

Featured Neuroscience

·October 26, 2012·2 min read

Stimulating Brain Cells with Light

The work will be conducted on laboratory rats modelling Parkinson’s disease. The transplanted cells will be derived from skin from an adult human and will have been “reprogrammed” as nerve cells. The light-sensitive protein is obtained from a bacterium, which uses light to gain energy.

An image of stem cells is shown. Caption describes well.

Featured Neurology

·October 19, 2012·4 min read

Scientists Pinpoint Key Player in Parkinson’s Disease Neuron Loss

Stem cell study may help to unravel how a genetic mutation leads to Parkinson's symptoms. By reprogramming skin cells from Parkinson's disease patients with a known genetic mutation, researchers identified damage to neural stem cells as a powerful player in Parkinson's disease.

Cocaine with a needles and a razor blade are shown.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Abstracts

·October 15, 2012·4 min read

Does Motherhood Dampen Cocaine’s Effects?

Mother rats respond much differently to cocaine than female rats that have never given birth, according to new University of Michigan research that looks at both behavior and brain chemistry.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 18, 2012·3 min read

Dopamine: A Substance with Many Messages

Researchers recently localised and identified the most important types of nerve cells involved in forming positive and negative memories of a fruit fly. All four nerve cell types they discovered use dopamine to communicate with other nerve cells. Three of the nerve cell types assume various functions in mediating negative stimuli, while the fourth enables the fly to form positive memories.