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Rockefeller University

·September 19, 2025·5 min read

How Neurons Pick Just One Scent Receptor

Researchers studying clonal raider ants have uncovered how each sensory neuron manages to express just one odorant receptor gene from a library of hundreds. Unlike fruit flies or mammals, ants employ a unique system of transcriptional interference: once one receptor gene is chosen, surrounding genes are silenced by readthrough and antisense transcripts.

Neuroscience

·September 15, 2025·5 min read

Boosting Protein Keeps Neurons Healthy and Extend Lifespan

Scientists have identified a new therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative diseases by boosting a protein called PI31, which ensures proteasomes reach synapses to clear protein waste. In fruit flies and mice, restoring PI31 prevented neuronal degeneration, reversed motor defects, and even extended lifespan nearly fourfold.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 14, 2025·6 min read

Hormones Shape Love and Lust Differently in Male & Female Brains

New research uncovers how a hormonally tuned brain circuit in mice governs sex-specific mating behaviors. Scientists identified a subset of neurons in the prefrontal cortex that integrate oxytocin, ovarian hormones, and social cues to modulate sexual receptivity in females and suppress mating interest in males.

Featured Neuroscience Visual Neuroscience

·May 2, 2025·8 min read

How Visual Neurons Adapt in Real Time

New research reveals that neurons in the visual cortex are far more adaptable than previously thought, responding dynamically to complex stimuli during object recognition tasks. While visual processing has traditionally been viewed as mostly feedforward, this study shows that feedback from higher brain areas conveys prior knowledge and behavioral context to shape perception.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 28, 2025·9 min read

Tiny Brain Structure Reveals New Paths to Treat Addiction, Depression

New research spotlights the habenula, a tiny but powerful brain region, as a key player in addiction, motivation, and emotional regulation. Studies show that the habenula’s circuitry influences how the brain processes rewards, disappointment, and drug cravings, offering potential drug targets like the GPR151 receptor.

This shows a modern human and a Neanderthal.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·February 18, 2025·8 min read

Genetic Link Between Humans and the Evolution of Speech Found

New research suggests a genetic variant in the NOVA1 protein may have played a key role in the emergence of human speech. Scientists introduced this exclusively human variant into mice and observed altered vocalizations, indicating a potential role in vocal communication.

Featured Neuroscience

·November 7, 2024·5 min read

Newly Discovered Brain Neurons May Help Curb Hunger

Scientists have uncovered a new neuron type, BNC2, which acts quickly to counter hunger-promoting neurons, potentially leading to more effective appetite regulation. These BNC2 neurons, located in the brain’s arcuate nucleus, respond rapidly to hunger cues by inhibiting AGRP neurons responsible for driving appetite. This discovery adds a crucial layer to our understanding of the neural circuits controlling hunger and opens the door for novel treatments for obesity and metabolic conditions.

Featured Neuroscience

·October 23, 2024·9 min read

Neural Circuit Found to Regulate Chewing and Appetite

New research has uncovered a simple neural circuit that connects hunger signals to jaw movements required for eating. Scientists identified a three-neuron pathway involving the hormone leptin and BDNF neurons, which controls the jaw's motor function.

Brain Cancer Featured Neuroscience

·August 7, 2024·6 min read

Sensory Neurons Play Role in Cancer Development

Recent research highlights the role of sensory nerves in promoting breast cancer metastasis. By secreting neuropeptides, these nerves enhance tumor growth and spread, revealing a potential new therapeutic target. The study shows that the FDA-approved drug aprepitant can inhibit this pathway, reducing metastasis in breast cancer models. This breakthrough underscores the critical link between the nervous system and cancer, offering new avenues for treatment.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 18, 2024·5 min read

Practice Makes Perfect: Crystallized Memory Formation Explored

A new study confirms the age-old adage "practice makes perfect." Researchers used cutting-edge technology to observe 73,000 neurons in mice as they learned a task. They found that repetitive practice solidifies neural pathways, transforming unstable memory representations into stable ones, leading to improved performance and mastery.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·April 9, 2024·6 min read

Learning and Memory Formation’s Molecular Basis

Researchers developed a new platform to explore dendritic translation's role in memory formation and its implications for intellectual disorders. By employing a novel method named TurboID, researchers uncovered a suite of previously unknown factors involved in memory-related protein synthesis within dendrites, shedding light on the molecular mechanisms that could underlie conditions like Fragile X syndrome.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·March 14, 2024·6 min read

Mating Study Unlocks the Genetic Code of Attraction

Researchers uncover the nuanced mating behaviors of nematodes, revealing a complex interplay between hermaphroditic and female roundworms in their quest for reproduction. While females actively seek out males, tracking them by smell for mating, hermaphrodites exhibit a starkly different approach, avoiding mating until they deplete their sperm supply. This research not only enhances our understanding of nematode reproductive strategies but also offers insights into the genetic mechanisms of attraction and behavioral evolution. semination.

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Rockefeller University

How Neurons Pick Just One Scent Receptor

Boosting Protein Keeps Neurons Healthy and Extend Lifespan

Hormones Shape Love and Lust Differently in Male & Female Brains

How Visual Neurons Adapt in Real Time

Tiny Brain Structure Reveals New Paths to Treat Addiction, Depression

Genetic Link Between Humans and the Evolution of Speech Found

Newly Discovered Brain Neurons May Help Curb Hunger

Neural Circuit Found to Regulate Chewing and Appetite

Sensory Neurons Play Role in Cancer Development

Practice Makes Perfect: Crystallized Memory Formation Explored

Learning and Memory Formation’s Molecular Basis

Mating Study Unlocks the Genetic Code of Attraction

Thought Begins Before We’re Born

Genetics Point to a New Type of Suicide Risk

Stress-Like Behaviors Traced to a Single ATP Circuit in the Brain

Psychedelic ‘Ego Death’ Tied to a Collapse in Alpha Brain Waves

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