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optogenetics

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·March 11, 2020·2 min read

JNK protein triggers neurons to withdraw their synapses when stressed

Using optogenetics to inhibit the JNK protein prevented synapses from shrinking in response to stress.

Featured Neuroscience

·February 27, 2020·5 min read

How the brain forms habits

As the brain starts to develop new habits, activity in the dorsolateral striatum increases. As the activity bursts increase, the habit becomes stronger. Inhibiting neural activity with optogenetics reduces habit behaviors in mice.

This shows the chemical structure of dopamine

Featured Neuroscience

·February 5, 2020·3 min read

Novelty speeds up learning thanks to dopamine activation

Novelty directly activates the dopamine system and enhances associative learning. The findings have implications for the development of new machine learning technologies and educational strategies.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·December 20, 2019·3 min read

Neurons responsible for rapid eye movements/REM during sleep identified

Nucleus papilion neurons play an important role in eye movement during REM sleep.

Featured Neuroscience

·October 3, 2019·6 min read

Key to learning and forgetting identified in sleeping brain

Using optogenetics to dampen delta waves of rats during sleep resulted in weaker memory reactivation and promoted forgetting. The findings could have significant implications for treating PTSD in humans.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·September 13, 2019·4 min read

How emotion affects action

Researchers have identified a comprehensive circuit mechanism that governs how emotional states can influence movement through connections in the basal ganglia. The mechanism represents a way in which emotional states relate to changes in action control in depression, anxiety, and OCD.

Featured Neuroscience

·August 12, 2019·3 min read

Negative memory storage affects depression symptoms

Enhanced reactivation of negative memory engrams may be an important cellular mechanism behind the cognitive symptoms of depression.

This shows how ultrasound frequency affects different mammals

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Neuroscience Videos

·August 11, 2019·6 min read

The new field of sonogenetics uses sound waves to control the behavior of brain cells

A new technology known as sonogenetics can control neural activity by using sound frequencies. The technology could be used to non-invasively treat a range of neurological conditions, including Parkinson's disease and epilepsy.

Featured Neuroscience

·August 5, 2019·4 min read

Scientists can now manipulate brain cells using smartphone

A soft neural implant that can be controlled by a smartphone is capable of drug delivery and optogenetics. The technology could speed up efforts to uncover the causes of neurological and psychological disorders.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 22, 2019·2 min read

Hypothalamus pathway drives defense behaviors

A newly discovered pathway that links the hypothalamus and midbrain drives innate defense behaviors. The findings could have implications for developing therapies for anxiety disorders.