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Salk Institute

·July 10, 2025·6 min read

Brain Pathway Reveals How Pain Feels Emotionally

Pain is more than a physical signal — it also carries emotional weight that shapes our response and memory of discomfort. A new study identifies a group of neurons in the thalamus that directly links pain signals to the brain’s emotional center.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·May 24, 2025·7 min read

Scientists Decode Key Motions Behind Brain’s Transport

Cells depend on motor proteins like dynein to shuttle materials along microscopic highways, and dysfunction in these proteins can lead to serious neurological disorders. New research captured real-time, high-resolution “movies” of dynein being activated by its partner protein, Lis1, illuminating the step-by-step process.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 14, 2025·6 min read

Prozac Shows Promise in Fighting Infections & Sepsis

New research suggests that fluoxetine, commonly used as an antidepressant, may also help protect against infections and sepsis. Scientists found that the drug has antimicrobial properties and helps regulate the immune response, reducing the risk of tissue and organ damage.

Featured Neuroscience

·November 19, 2024·6 min read

Breath and Emotion Connected by Newly Identified Brain Circuit

Researchers have identified a specific brain circuit that allows voluntary control of breathing, linking it to emotional and behavioral states. This circuit, spanning the anterior cingulate cortex, pons, and medulla, slows breathing during calm states and accelerates it under anxiety. Experiments in mice showed activating this circuit reduced anxiety, while shutting it off increased stress.

Featured Neuroscience

·September 30, 2024·6 min read

New Brain Mapping Tool Reveals Detailed Neuronal Connections

Scientists have developed a new brain-mapping tool called START, which combines transcriptomics and viral tracing to map the connections between specific neuronal subtypes with unprecedented detail. This technology allows researchers to identify distinct patterns of connectivity in inhibitory neurons within the cerebral cortex, providing a blueprint of the brain’s circuits.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 22, 2024·6 min read

Neuropeptides, Not Neurotransmitters, Drive Brain’s Fear Response

Researchers have discovered that neuropeptides, not neurotransmitters, are the primary messengers in the brain's fear circuit. This finding could lead to better painkillers and treatments for fear-related conditions. Using innovative tools, scientists observed neuropeptide release during fear responses in live mice. The study highlights the potential of targeting multiple neuropeptides for more effective therapies.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 25, 2024·6 min read

The Brain Stores 10x More Info Than Thought

Researchers developed a method to measure synaptic strength, precision of plasticity, and information storage in the brain. Using information theory, researchers found that synapses can store 10 times more information than previously believed.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·April 18, 2024·6 min read

CBD’s Neuroprotective Properties Explored

Summary: Cannabinol (CBN), a cannabinoid derived from cannabis, offers neuroprotective properties that could treat neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and...

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·January 4, 2024·4 min read

Mapping the Brain Circuit Behind Panic Disorder

Researchers have identified a brain circuit that mediates panic disorder, offering a crucial insight into the condition's origins. This circuit involves specialized neurons that use the neuropeptide PACAP to send messages related to stress responses.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 24, 2023·6 min read

Wasting Away to Health: Unexpected Benefits of Muscle Loss in Infection

In an unexpected twist, researchers found that muscle loss, a form of 'wasting' during infections, could be beneficial. Their study revealed that during T. brucei infection in mice, fat loss initiated by CD4+ T cells had no impact on survival or fighting the parasite.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 11, 2023·7 min read

Human Brain Organoids Reveal How Microglia Develop and Function

Researchers have developed human brain organoids that contain microglia, the immune cells of the brain. These organoids allow researchers to study how microglia develop and function in a more realistic setting than previous models. The researchers found that microglia are influenced by the environment in which they develop, and that they play a role in both development and disease. Their findings could lead to new treatments for neurological disorders.

Featured Neuroscience

·March 21, 2023·4 min read

Wearable Microscopes Advance Spinal Cord Imaging in Mice

A newly invented wearable microscope produces high-definition and real-time images of neurons and activity in the mouse spinal cord in previously inaccessible regions.