FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·August 14, 2024·3 min read34 Neuron Subtypes Linked to AddictionResearchers identified 34 distinct subtypes of medium spiny neurons (MSNs) in the nucleus accumbens, a brain region crucial for reward and addiction. This discovery challenges previous views of MSNs as a homogeneous group, revealing a complex diversity with potential implications for understanding addiction and developing targeted therapies. The study suggests these findings may be conserved across species, offering insights into human brain function.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·August 5, 2024·5 min readNew Tool Rapidly Tracks Psychedelic Effects in Brain NeuronsResearchers developed a rapid, noninvasive tool called CaST that tracks neurons and biomolecules activated by psychedelic drugs. This new method allows researchers to observe the cellular processes responsible for the neuroplastic effects of psychedelics, offering insights into treatments for brain disorders like depression and PTSD.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·April 23, 2024·5 min readNew Tool Maps Brain Signals with Unprecedented ClarityResearchers developed an innovative chemical tool to explore how signals like dopamine and epinephrine interact with neurons via G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). This new tool allows for precise detection of neuromodulators across various brain regions with high spatial resolution.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·April 10, 2024·4 min readBridging Brain Circuits with Lab-Grown Neural NetworksResearchers successfully connected lab-grown brain tissues, mimicking the complex networks found in the human brain. This novel method involves linking “neural organoids” with axonal bundles, enabling the study of interregional brain connections and their role in human cognitive functions.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·April 8, 2024·4 min readRevolutionizing Neuron Observation for Disease InsightA new neuron labeling technology, NeuM, has been developed, offering unprecedented insights into the mechanisms of neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. NeuM enables selective, high-resolution visualization of neuronal membranes, allowing for the detailed monitoring of neuronal changes in real-time.Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·March 26, 2024·6 min readThe Genetic Secrets of Neuron FormationResearchers illuminated the pivotal role of the protein MEIS2 in brain development, particularly in the differentiation of inhibitory projection neurons, crucial for motion control and decision-making. This protein, in conjunction with DLX5, activates specific genes that guide the development of these neurons.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·March 13, 2024·5 min readGuarding Neuronal Identity: The Vital Role of Kdm1aA new study reveals the critical function of the protein Kdm1a in maintaining neuronal identity and preventing the premature aging of neurons. Through experiments in mice and corroborated by human data, researchers found that Kdm1a suppresses inappropriate gene expression, preserving the epigenetic barriers that distinguish active and inactive chromatin regions.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·February 8, 2024·5 min readNeural Insights Reveal the Secrets of LocomotionResearchers made a breakthrough in understanding how stick insects control their leg muscles during walking, challenging previous assumptions about motor neuron activation. Their study reveals that neurons activating the depressor muscle in a stick insect's leg receive a unique rhythmic excitation, unlike other leg muscles.Read More
ElectrophysiologyFeaturedNeuroscience·January 17, 2024·5 min readNeural Connectivity: A Universal Network PhenomenonA groundbreaking study by physicists and neuroscientists reveals that the connectivity among neurons stems from universal networking principles, not just biological specifics.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·November 2, 2023·4 min readNew Map Shows How Our Neurons CommunicateResearchers unveiled a pioneering technique for charting the intricate conversations occurring within our brains. Such insights are key to decoding behavioral alterations in neurological disease patients.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·September 29, 2023·4 min readCircadian Rhythm Off Beat: Parkinson’s and Nighttime Neuron DamageResearchers delved into the enigma of sleep disturbances and their relation to Parkinson's disease. Utilizing fruit flies, they found that cellular stress linked to Parkinson's was especially damaging to neurons during nighttime.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·September 28, 2023·6 min readLinking Age-Related Memory Decline to a Specific Brain CellResearchers have delved deeper into how specific interneurons in the brain affect memory as we age. In a study focusing on the hippocampus, they found that reducing the number of somatostatin-positive interneurons led to cognitive deficits resembling aging.Read More