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locus coeruleus

·May 15, 2025·5 min read

Brain’s Arousal Regulator Found

A new study reveals that a small cluster of cells near the brain's "blue spot"—the locus coeruleus—helps regulate arousal, attention, and stress responses. These peri-LC neurons modulate the locus coeruleus by releasing GABA, which reduces its activity and dampens the release of norepinephrine.

Neuroscience

·April 25, 2025·5 min read

Blue Brain Marker Peaks in Midlife, May Predict Cognitive Aging

Researchers have mapped age-related changes in the brain’s locus coeruleus (LC), a region linked to cognition and Alzheimer’s risk, by tracking neuromelanin, a pigment that gives it its signature blue hue. In a diverse group of participants aged 19 to 86, they found an inverted U-shaped pattern: LC signal peaked in late middle age, then declined.

This shows a brain and a person sleeping.

Featured Neuroscience

·November 25, 2024·6 min read

Brain’s Locus Coeruleus Revealed as Key to Sleep Transitions

A new study uncovers the role of the brain's locus coeruleus (LC) in regulating sleep cycles, managing transitions between NREM and REM sleep. This brainstem region alternates between activity peaks and troughs during sleep, acting like a clock to control sleep-state shifts.

Featured Neuroscience Visual Neuroscience

·May 2, 2024·6 min read

Brainstem Plays Vital Role in Visual Attention

Researchers highlights the locus coeruleus (LC), a small brainstem region, as critical in enhancing visual sensory processing through its production of norepinephrine. In the study scientists used optogenetics to activate these specific neurons in non-human primates, significantly improving their performance in a visual attention task.

Featured Neuroscience

·September 22, 2023·4 min read

Brain’s Blue Spot, Locus Coeruleus, Is A Key Player in Sleep Quality and Memory

Researchers have shed light on the vital role of the locus coeruleus in regulating REM sleep and its effects on cognitive processes. Located deep in the brain, this nucleus manages noradrenaline, influencing memory, emotions, and sleep initiation.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·September 1, 2022·5 min read

How a Brain Area Implicated in Alzheimer’s May Be Vulnerable to Degeneration

Study reveals a novel mechanism in locus coeruleus neurons caused by the loss of the GPT2 mitochondrial enzyme that is implicated in the development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases.

This shows a woman sitting up in a dark room

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 14, 2022·3 min read

Why Do Embarrassing Memories Seem to Surface at Night?

During REM sleep, the locus coeruleus stops releasing noradrenaline. By blocking the cascade, the association between memory and emotional response is broken. This may not occur so frequently in restless sleepers, resulting in rumination and PTSD-like symptoms. For those who usually sleep well, embarrassing feelings experienced at night may be reduced by morning.