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optogenetics

·September 26, 2017·4 min read

Overturning the Theory of Tremors in Parkinson’s

KAIST researchers have identified a new mechanism that causes tremors associated with Parkinson's disease. The findings, researchers say, overturn long standing assumptions about how tremors occur in Parkinson's disease.

Featured Neurology

·September 16, 2017·4 min read

Brain Rewiring in Parkinson’s Disease May Contribute to Abnormal Movement

Abnormal activity involving the globus pallidus may be responsible for movement dysfunction in Parkinson's disease, a new study reports.

Featured Neuroscience

·September 15, 2017·4 min read

Uncovering the Neurons That Drive Thirst

Using optogenetics, Stanford researchers identify a set of neurons that help regulate thirst.

Featured Neuroscience

·August 22, 2017·4 min read

Activating Brain Region Creates Intense Desire to Use Cocaine

Using optogenetics to stimulate the amygdala, researchers intensify the desire to consume cocaine in rats.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Pain

·August 17, 2017·4 min read

Specialized Neurons That Respond to Pain of Pulling Single Hair Discovered

NIH researchers have identified a specific type of sensory neurons which become activated as a result of pulling a single hair.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·August 16, 2017·5 min read

Scientists Use Magnetic Fields to Remotely Stimulate Brain and Control Body Movements

Researchers have developed a new, minimally invasive brain stimulation technique that can induce a range of bodily movements. The technique, magneto-thermal stimulation, can be used to target highly specific brain regions and could help researchers to advance brain mapping studies.

Autism Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·August 3, 2017·6 min read

Autism May Reflect Excitation-Inhibition Imbalance in Brain

Reducing the excitation-inhibition ratio by diminishing excitability of pyramidal neurons or increasing excitability of PV neurons led mice to spend more time engaged in social encounters. Researchers believe the excitation-inhibition balance may play a key role in autism and normal social behavior.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·July 24, 2017·5 min read

Illuminating Neural Pathways in the Living Brain

A new optogenetic method called Optobow is helping researchers to discover specific and individual components of functional neural networks in the living brain. A Nature Communications report states this new method can help provide more detailed insights into both brain function and structure.

Image shows matrices of the neural activity.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 20, 2017·4 min read

Patterns of Brain Activity Direct Specific Body Movements

A new study sheds light on how neurons in the motor cortex communicate with muscles and drive motion. Using optogenetics, the researchers discovered the motor cortex communicates with muscles differently, depending on the type of movement an animal makes.

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·July 14, 2017·3 min read

A Neural Switch for Becoming Alpha Male

A new report in Science identifies a neural circuit in the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex of mouse brains that may play a key role in social dominance. Using optogenetics, researchers were able to target neurons in the dmPFC to help boost a mouse's chance of 'winning' in an aggressive encounter.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 6, 2017·6 min read

Controlling Memory By Triggering Specific Brain Waves During Sleep

Using optogenetics, researchers manipulated pulses of neural activity during non REM sleep that made mice either remember of forget things they had learned. This novel study demonstrated that altering sleep spindle oscillations during sleep has an impact on memory formation and retention.

Featured Neuroscience

·June 27, 2017·6 min read

A Snapshot of Neural Activity

A new neuron labeling technique allows researchers to obtain a snapshot of their activity at any moment in time. The new approach could provide new insights into neural functioning by offering better precision than current, more long term, labeling techniques.