FeaturedNeuroscience·December 4, 2024·5 min readImmune Cells Modulate Movement and EnergyMacrophages, immune cells typically known for fighting infections, have been discovered to play a vital role in controlling movement and linking neural activity with metabolic demands. Located in muscle spindles, these cells modulate neural activity using glutamate signaling, fine-tune muscle contractions, and optimize energy use during physical activity.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·October 23, 2024·6 min readNeural Pathways Link Dopamine to Movement and MotivationResearchers have discovered two new brain pathways that modify movement and emotional decisions by controlling dopamine release. These pathways, found in the striatum, either stimulate or inhibit dopamine-producing neurons, influencing the go and no-go pathways that control movement.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·October 3, 2024·4 min readAI Model Predicts Complex Animal MovementsScientists have developed a highly accurate model simulating animal movements, using the nematode worm C. elegans as a base. This model captures both predictable and random behaviors, with applications in medicine and robotics.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·September 26, 2024·7 min readHow Reflexes Shape Smooth MovementResearchers have uncovered how the spinal cord helps modulate reflexes to allow for smooth, voluntary movements. Using simulations, the study shows how circuits within the spinal cord regulate stretch reflexes, preventing disruptions during skilled movements like reaching.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·July 3, 2024·5 min readAI Decodes Emotion Through MovementsA new methodology developed by an international research team uses motion capture and the EMOKINE software to decode emotions from movements. The team recorded a dancer performing choreographies expressing various emotions and analyzed the kinematic features of her movements.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·June 12, 2024·7 min readHow Brain Maps Memories Without MovementMental maps in the brain are activated when thinking about sequences of experiences, even without physical movement. In an animal study, they found that the entorhinal cortex harbors a cognitive map of experiences, which is activated during mental simulation. This is the first study to show the cellular basis of mental simulation in a nonspatial domain. The findings could enhance our understanding of brain function and memory formation.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·April 30, 2024·5 min readRobot Masters Terrain with Animal-Like Gait TransitionsResearchers leveraged deep reinforcement learning (DRL) to enable a robot to adaptively switch gaits, mimicking animal movements like trotting and pronking, to traverse complex terrains effectively. Their study explores the concept of viability—or fall prevention—as a primary motivator for such gait transitions, challenging previous beliefs that energy efficiency is the key driver.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·April 11, 2024·5 min readSpinal Cord Learns and Remembers Movements AutonomouslyThe spinal cord possesses its own learning and memory capabilities, challenging the long-held view of it as merely a message relay between the brain and body. Through innovative experiments, the team identified two distinct neuronal populations that enable the spinal cord to independently adapt and remember movements.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·March 21, 2024·4 min readDeciphering Proprioception: How the Brain Maps MovementA new study reveals the mechanisms behind proprioception, our body's innate ability to sense limb position and movement, critical for movement without visual cues. Utilizing musculoskeletal simulations and neural network models, researchers have advanced our understanding of how the brain integrates sensory data from muscle spindles to perceive bodily position and motion.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·March 21, 2024·5 min readAI Predicts Movement from Brain DataResearchers developed an AI algorithm capable of predicting mouse movement with a 95% accuracy by analyzing whole-cortex functional imaging data, potentially revolutionizing brain-machine interface technology. The team's end-to-end deep learning method requires no data preprocessing and can make accurate predictions based on just 0.17 seconds of imaging data.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·March 20, 2024·6 min readUnlocking Motion: The Unexpected Complexity of Motor NeuronsResearchers upended traditional views on motor neurons through their groundbreaking study on fruit flies. Demonstrating that individual motor neurons can produce a variety of complex head movements rather than just simple actions, this research highlights the intricate role these neurons play in bodily motion.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·February 19, 2024·7 min readDopamine’s Role in Movement ExploredA new study explains how dopamine influences movement sequences, offering hope for Parkinson's disease (PD) therapies. Researchers observed that dopamine not only motivates movement but also controls the length and lateralization of actions, with different neurons activating for movement initiation and reward reception.Read More
