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synapses

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·September 30, 2024·4 min read

Prion Disease Mutations Impact Synapses Before Symptoms Appear

New research reveals that prion disease mutations can alter the structure of neuron synapses long before symptoms emerge. Scientists studied neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) of patients with the E200K prion protein mutation, showing changes in neuron-to-neuron contact sites even in the absence of misfolded prion proteins.

Featured Neuroscience

·September 29, 2024·3 min read

How the Brain Enhances Sleep Through Synaptic Strength

Researchers have discovered that stronger synaptic connections between neurons in the brain trigger deeper sleep. Using a molecular tool called SYNCit-K, scientists enhanced synaptic strength in the prefrontal cortex of mice, inducing sleep and aligning with predictions from a mathematical model of brain activity.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·September 27, 2024·3 min read

Enzyme Key to Brain Function and Synapse Health Discovered

A new study reveals that the absence of the TRMT10A enzyme disrupts tRNA levels, leading to impaired protein synthesis and brain function. Researchers found that mice lacking the Trmt10a gene had decreased levels of key tRNAs, which affected neuronal synapses and cognitive abilities.

Featured Neuroscience

·August 8, 2024·5 min read

Synaptic Quality Key to Age Related Memory Preservation

A recent study reveals that the quality, not the quantity, of synapses in the brain is crucial for preserving memory in older adults. Researchers found that larger dendritic spine head diameters in the temporal cortex correlate with better episodic memory performance, challenging the long-held belief that memory decline is primarily due to synapse loss.

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 Neuroscience

·May 1, 2024·4 min read

Sleep’s First Half Crucial for Brain Reset

During the first half of sleep, the brain actively weakens the synaptic connections formed during wakefulness, supporting the Synaptic Homeostasis Hypothesis on the purpose of sleep. This finding suggests that sleep serves as a crucial reset that prepares the brain for new learning by reducing synaptic strength.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·March 14, 2024·6 min read

Unraveling Alzheimer’s: A Novel Mechanical Perspective on Amyloid Precursor Protein’s Role

groundbreaking study introduces a novel hypothesis that Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP), known for its role in Alzheimer's disease (AD), is crucial for the mechanical integrity of synapses through its interaction with talin, a synaptic scaffold protein. It proposes that the misprocessing of APP disrupts mechanical signaling pathways, leading to synaptic degeneration and memory loss, thereby contributing to the progression of AD.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·March 8, 2024·5 min read

Unlocking Synaptic Mysteries: The Role of FAM81A Protein

Researchers have identified a critical protein, FAM81A, that plays a pivotal role in forming postsynaptic protein agglomerations, essential for synaptic function in the brain. By analyzing 35 previous studies, the team discovered FAM81A's consistent presence in the postsynaptic density, a complex protein structure vital for neuron signal transmission.

Featured Neuroscience

·January 18, 2024·4 min read

SynapShot Technique Enables Real-Time Synapse Observation

A pioneering research team developed SynapShot, the first technique enabling real-time observation of synapse formation and changes. This groundbreaking method involves conjugating dimerization-dependent fluorescent proteins to synapses, allowing the team to track live synapse dynamics.

Featured Neuroscience

·January 12, 2024·5 min read

Brain Junctions Unlocked

New research unveils the function of a previously little-understood brain junction involving oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs). These cells, integral in forming the protective myelin sheath around nerve cells, have been found to form unique synapses with neurons, influencing myelin production.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·October 13, 2023·7 min read

Deciphering Neurons: A Journey into Synapse Formation

Researchers unveiled key aspects of synapse formation, crucial for neuronal communication and information storage in the brain. Utilizing CRISPR to mark synaptic vesicles with a fluorescent protein in human stem cells, they observed the development of these vesicles in living neurons.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·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.

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synapses

Prion Disease Mutations Impact Synapses Before Symptoms Appear

How the Brain Enhances Sleep Through Synaptic Strength

Enzyme Key to Brain Function and Synapse Health Discovered

Synaptic Quality Key to Age Related Memory Preservation

The Brain Stores 10x More Info Than Thought

Sleep’s First Half Crucial for Brain Reset

Unraveling Alzheimer’s: A Novel Mechanical Perspective on Amyloid Precursor Protein’s Role

Unlocking Synaptic Mysteries: The Role of FAM81A Protein

SynapShot Technique Enables Real-Time Synapse Observation

Brain Junctions Unlocked

Deciphering Neurons: A Journey into Synapse Formation

The Molecular Mechanisms of Synaptic Variability in Neural Diversity

Gene Therapy Restores Hearing in Those with Deafness

Forever Chemicals May Disrupt Brain Development

Kids Outsmart AI in Puzzle Game That Builds Critical Thinking

Drug-Coated Neural Implants Reduce Immune Rejection

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