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interneurons

This is a cerebral cortex brain slice under a microscope.

·October 6, 2013·3 min read

Class of Cortical Inhibitory Neurons That Specialize in Disinhibition Identified

VIP interneurons specialize in inhibiting other inhibitory neurons in multiple regions of the cerebral cortex under specific behavioral conditions, a new study shows.

The image shows Dr. Lin Mei , Drs. Yongjun Chen and Chengyong Shen; the researchers involved in this study.

Featured Neuroscience

·January 30, 2013·3 min read

Scientists Learn more about how Inhibitory Brain Cells get Excited

New research discovers an early step in how the brain's inhibitory cells get excited. Erbin, a protein critical to brain development, is also crucial for the excitement of inhibitory cells.

An image of fly spinal cord equivalent is shown.

Featured Neuroscience

·October 11, 2012·6 min read

Novel Mechanisms Underlying Major Childhood Neuromuscular Disease Identified

A study suggests that spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a genetic neuromuscular disease in infants and children, results primarily from motor circuit dysfunction, not motor neuron or muscle cell dysfunction, as is commonly thought. In a second study, the researchers identified the molecular pathway in SMA that leads to problems with motor function.

Electrophysiology Featured Neuroscience

·October 8, 2012·2 min read

Discovery of Gatekeeper Nerve Cells Explains the Effect of Nicotine on Learning and Memory

Researchers discovered a new group of nerve cells that regulate processes of learning and memory. These cells act as gatekeepers and carry a receptor for nicotine, which can help explain our ability to remember and sort information. The newly discovered gatekeeper nerve cells, also called OLM-alpha2 cells, provide an explanation to how the flow of information is controlled in the hippocampus.