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Rockefeller University

This shows a modern human and a Neanderthal.

·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.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·November 3, 2023·5 min read

Is a Common Bacteria a Trigger For Multiple Sclerosis?

Researchers have discovered a potential link between the microbe C. perfringens and the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS). The study suggests that an epsilon toxin from the bacteria might degrade the blood-brain barrier, initiating the debilitating symptoms of MS.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·January 13, 2023·5 min read

Why Older Fathers Pass On More Genetic Mutations to Their Offspring

Study of fruit flies reveals genetic mutations are common in the testes of both young and old males, but the mutations are more abundant in older insects. Many of the mutations are removed in the younger flies during spermatogenesis by the body's genetic repair mechanism, but spermatogenesis fails to repair the mutations in older flies.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·September 21, 2022·6 min read

Common Alzheimer’s Gene Variant Linked to COVID Mortality

Mice with the Alzheimer's disease-associated APOE4 and the APOE2 genes were more likely to die from COVID-19 than those with the APOE3 gene. Those with APOE4 and APOE2 genes had more virus replication in the lungs, higher inflammation, and increased tissue damage following coronavirus infection.