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Picower Institute for Learning and Memory

·September 18, 2023·5 min read

The Molecular Mechanisms of Synaptic Variability in Neural Diversity

Researchers reveal the intricate ways individual neurons communicate, even within the same type. Through their research on Drosophila fruit flies, they spotlight a protein, Complexin, responsible for curbing spontaneous neurotransmitter chatter.

Featured Neuroscience

·September 15, 2023·8 min read

Mice in Maze Shed New Light on Rodent Learning and Cognition

Researchers have delved deeper into mouse behavior, challenging previous assumptions about their cognitive strategies in reward-based learning tasks. While humans efficiently adopt the "win-stay, lose-shift" approach in "reversal learning" activities, mice were observed to blend this with an exploratory strategy.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·August 23, 2023·7 min read

The Molecular Logic Behind Neuron Diversity

Researchers uncovered how distinct neuron types in the Drosophila fruit fly differentiate their functions despite originating from a similar genetic framework. In the study, two closely related neuronal subtypes expressed more than 800 different genes (~5% of the fly genome) differently.

This shows a man's head and dots of light.

Electrophysiology Featured Neuroscience

·July 10, 2023·7 min read

Electric Fields are Pivotal in Encoding Memories

Our brains have been likened to an orchestra, with neurons as musicians creating a symphony of thought and memory. A recent study reveals the conductor behind this symphony: electric fields.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·June 12, 2023·7 min read

Neuron Support Squad: Perlecan Protein Key to Synaptic Durability

A new study discovered the critical role that Perlecan, a protein, plays in maintaining the structural integrity of neurons, particularly the long branches called axons. The study found that in the absence of Perlecan, axons in Drosophila fruit flies broke apart during development, leading to the death of their connections or synapses.

Electrophysiology Featured Neuroscience

·May 22, 2023·5 min read

Cytoelectric Coupling: Electrical Fields Fine-Tune Brain Functioning

Scientists present a hypothesis dubbed "Cytoelectric Coupling" suggesting electrical fields within the brain can manipulate neuronal sub-cellular components, optimizing network stability and efficiency. They propose these fields allow neurons to tune the information processing network down to the molecular level.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·May 18, 2023·6 min read

Good Vibrations: Tactile Stimulation May Aid Alzheimer’s Treatment

Researchers discovered tactile stimulation at a frequency of 40 Hz can help in reducing Alzheimer's disease pathology and symptoms. The study, conducted on Alzheimer's model mice, demonstrated improved brain health and motor function with daily exposure to such stimulation for a few weeks.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 15, 2023·6 min read

Decoding Serotonin: A Comprehensive Study on Its Impact on Brain and Behavior

Researchers conducted a detailed study on serotonin, a key molecule in influencing mood and behavior, tracing its impact from the molecular level to the brain's overall functioning. Using the simple animal model of C. elegans, the team was able to map serotonin's effects across the entire brain, giving a comprehensive view of its behavioral influence.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·April 19, 2023·6 min read

Neurons Vulnerable to Alzheimer’s Identified

Researchers identified a subset of neurons in the mammillary body of the hypothalamus which are susceptible to hyperactivity and neurodegeneration. This damage often leads to memory impairment associated with Alzheimer's disease. Treating these neurons with a drug currently used in the treatment of epilepsy reverses memory impairments caused by this hyperactivity and neurodegeneration.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 6, 2023·5 min read

Studying Consciousness Without Affecting It

Researchers found a way to assess consciousness without external stimulation, using a little-used approach where volunteers squeeze a force sensor with their hand when they breathe in and release it when they breathe out, resulting in more precise and sensitive measurements that may help improve treatment for insomnia and coma reversal.

Featured Neuroscience

·March 10, 2023·5 min read

Astrocyte Cells Critical for Learning Skilled Movements

Study reveals two specific ways in which astrocytes directly impact motor learning.

Featured Neuroscience

·February 2, 2023·7 min read

Sparse, Small, but Diverse Neural Connections Help Make Perception Reliable and Efficient

Thalamic inputs into superficial layers of the cerebral cortex are both rare and weak, yet surprisingly diverse in their distribution patterns. However, they are reliable and efficient representatives of information.

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Picower Institute for Learning and Memory

The Molecular Mechanisms of Synaptic Variability in Neural Diversity

Mice in Maze Shed New Light on Rodent Learning and Cognition

The Molecular Logic Behind Neuron Diversity

Electric Fields are Pivotal in Encoding Memories

Neuron Support Squad: Perlecan Protein Key to Synaptic Durability

Cytoelectric Coupling: Electrical Fields Fine-Tune Brain Functioning

Good Vibrations: Tactile Stimulation May Aid Alzheimer’s Treatment

Decoding Serotonin: A Comprehensive Study on Its Impact on Brain and Behavior

Neurons Vulnerable to Alzheimer’s Identified

Studying Consciousness Without Affecting It

Astrocyte Cells Critical for Learning Skilled Movements

Sparse, Small, but Diverse Neural Connections Help Make Perception Reliable and Efficient

Jellyfish Show Remarkable Learning Skills

Upside Down World: Unique View Offers Clues to Face Recognition

Brain’s Blue Spot, Locus Coeruleus, Is A Key Player in Sleep Quality and Memory

Coffee Component Boosts Memory

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