Novel melatonin receptor molecules make possible therapies to adjust biological clock
Researchers identified molecules that can modulate circadian rhythms by binding to the MT1 melatonin receptor in the hypothalamus.... Read More...
hypothalamus
A rat had basically no brain, but it could still see, hear, smell, and feel
Rat R222 was born with hydrocephalus. Neuroimaging revealed most of its brain had compressed and collapsed as it filled with fluid. However, despite its condition, the animal was still able to see, hear, smell, and feel like other animals. The study sheds new light on neuroplasticity, and the findings could have implications for the development of new machine learning technologies.... Read More...
America’s most widely consumed cooking oil causes genetic changes in the brain
Soybean oil, the most consumed cooking oil in the US, has been linked to neurological and metabolic alterations in mice. Soybean oil-fed mice showed decreased levels of oxytocin in the hypothalamus. ... Read More...
Making sense of the self
Study reveals how the insular cortex helps assess and predict physiological states of the body. The findings shed light on the neural basis for interoception.... Read More...
Key brain region smaller in birth control pill users
A new neuroimaging study reveals women who take oral contraception have reduced hypothalamic volume compared to women who do not take the pill. Smaller hypothalamic volume was associated with increased negative emotions and depression risk. ... Read More...
Scientists identify new puberty-promoting genes
Researchers have identified two molecules that might be linked to Kallmann syndrome, a genetic disorder that causes a lack of hormones which stimulate the brain to produce signals required to reach sexual maturity.... Read More...
How hunger makes food tastier
Study identifies the neural circuits that cause hunger-induced increases in the preference for sweet foods and decreased sensitivity to aversive tastes.... Read More...
The brain may actively forget during dream sleep
REM sleep has previously been linked to memory formation. A new study reveals this sleep period may also be critical for us to forget certain memories, preventing information overload. Researchers identified a mechanism involving MCH neurons which causes us to forget information during sleep.... Read More...
Brain activity intensity drives need for sleep
Galanin expressing neurons are selectively active during rebound sleep. The expression of galanin increases after neuronal activity and sleep deprivation. The neuropeptide plays a critical role in sleep homeostasis.... Read More...
High-fat diets affect your brain, not just your physical appearance
High-fat diets are not only bad for your waistline, they are also bad for your brain health. A new study reveals high-fat diets contribute to hypothalamic inflammation which occurs long before symptoms of obesity arise.... Read More...
Brain circuit connects feeding and mood in response to stress
A new study identifies a novel neural network regulating feeding and mood in response to chronic stress. Inhibiting the POMC to ventral tegmental area circuit increases body weight and food intake while reducing depressive symptoms in mouse models.... Read More...
Hypothalamus pathway drives defense behaviors
A newly discovered pathway that links the hypothalamus and midbrain drives innate defense behaviors. The findings could have implications for developing therapies for anxiety disorders.... Read More...