Salk Institute

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Salk Institute

·December 17, 2021·5 min read

Pain and Anxiety Impact Breathing on a Cellular Level

Core neurons in the lateral parabrachial nucleus project to the amygdala, an area of the brain associated with fear and emotional processing of pain. Neurons in the shell project to the pre-Bötzinger complex, a region that generates breathing rhythm. Both core and shell neurons influence each other according to inputs from each area, increasing breathing rate when we are in pain or anxious.

Featured Neuroscience

·December 13, 2021·5 min read

Flavor Your Food With “Flavanols (Flavan 3-Ols)” to Burn Excess Fat

Researchers have found a direct connection between flavan 3-ols consumption and fat browning by activation in the sympathetic nervous system. The findings could help in the development of new treatments for obesity-related disorders.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Visual Neuroscience

·November 29, 2021·4 min read

Which Side Is Which? How the Brain Perceives Borders

Neurons in deep layers of the brain's cortex are the first to decipher which side of a visual border is an object and which side is the background.

Electrophysiology Featured Neuroscience

·October 25, 2021·4 min read

Call and Response Circuit Tells Neurons When to Grow Synapses

A new study reveals the mechanisms by which neurons and astrocytes work together to form synapses.

Featured Neuroscience Robotics

·October 14, 2021·4 min read

How the Brain Ignores Distracting Information to Coordinate Movements

Researchers have identified how specific neurons in the cuneate nucleus help filter distracting information to coordinate dexterous movements. The findings have implications for the development of new prosthetics and robotic equipment that can fine-tune movement based on the sense of touch.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·October 6, 2021·9 min read

Advancing Efforts to Treat, Prevent and Cure Brain Disorders

Collaborative work on the brain atlas describes how different cells are organized and connected throughout the mouse brain. Understanding what differentiates brain cells can lead to new research and potential therapies for brain disorders.

Featured Neuroscience

·August 14, 2021·4 min read

Neurons Involved in Overdose Deaths Identified

Blocking specific opioid receptors in specific neurons in mice restored breathing that occurred as a result of opioid overdose.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·May 25, 2021·4 min read

How to Boost Muscle Regeneration and Rebuild Tissue

Compounds used by researchers in stem cell research increase the regeneration of muscles in mice with age-related muscle loss.

This shows AB plaques surrounded by microglia

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·April 16, 2021·5 min read

Some Alzheimer’s Plaques May Be Protective, Not Destructive

Microglia creates dense-core plaques which help to clear away more wispy plaques from neurons, preventing cell death. Findings suggest the dense-core plaques play a defensive role in protecting the brain from the ravages of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·January 29, 2021·4 min read

Specific Bacteria in the Gut Prompt Mother Mice to Neglect Their Pups

Researchers have identified a strain of E.coli in the guts of female mice that cause them to neglect their offspring. The study shows a direct link between the microbiome and maternal behavior.