Researchers have identified functional features that make human neurons unique.
Study reports a pervasive neuromodulation system strongly influences sound processing in a key auditory region of the brain. Findings suggest acetylcholine may assist in the brain's ability to distinguish speech from other noise.
Study reveals a new role for serotonin in the development of the human neocortex. Serotonin acts cell-extrinsically as a growth factor for basal progenitors in the developing neocortex. Researchers report placenta-driven serotonin likely contributed to the evolutionary expansion of the neocortex in humans.
During pregnancy, the maternal environment has a dominant influence on the length of the neurogenic period and the number of upper-layer neurons produced. The study reveals a link between the maternal environment and embryonic cortical neurogenesis in-vitro.
Mouse study pinpoints the precise location in the brain where distracting stimuli are blocked, allowing for concentration on specific tasks. The findings could have implications for the treatment of ADHD and schizophrenia.
Iron accumulation in the brain's neocortex has been linked to cognitive decline in people with Alzheimer's disease.
Chandelier cells have an unusual direct method of communication. Unlike other neurons, chandelier cells connect directly to the part of a target neuron that initiates a spike.
GABAergic interneuron excitation is essential for network activity in the hippocampus of the fetal brain.
Mouse study reveals slow-wave brain activity, which is indicative of sleep and resting states, is controlled by the claustrum. The synchronization of active and silent states across the brain via the slow waves contributes to consciousness.
Study shows how Toxoplasma parasitic infections promote the loss of inhibitory signaling in the brain by altering the behavior of microglia.
Male alcohol consumption before conception was linked to significant deficits in their offspring's brain development, specifically within the neocortex. For mothers-to-be who drink alcohol, the negative outcomes of prenatal alcohol exposure on fetal brain development can be reduced with choline supplementation.
Mice lacking the autism-associated SHANK3 gene were more sensitive to sensation, including touch. The mice also had overactive excitatory neurons in the somatosensory cortex, which may account for sensory hypersensitivity.
