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Weill Cornell University

Featured Neuroscience Visual Neuroscience

·November 22, 2024·5 min read

Brainstem Neurons Guide Gaze, Maintain Short-Term Memory

Researchers used zebrafish larvae to uncover how brainstem neurons guide gaze and maintain short-term memory. By mapping neuronal circuits, they built a computational model that accurately predicted network activity. The findings shed light on visual-motor systems and offer insights for treating eye movement disorders.

Featured Neuroscience

·October 10, 2024·5 min read

Controlling Brain Activity with Magnetic Fields

Researchers have developed a breakthrough technology using magnetic fields to control specific brain circuits non-invasively, potentially transforming treatments for conditions like Parkinson’s and depression. This technique, termed "magnetogenetics," delivers gene therapy to target neurons and uses magnetic fields to activate or inhibit them, allowing precise manipulation without invasive implants. In mouse studies, this approach successfully reduced movement issues associated with Parkinson’s. Future research aims to explore clinical applications for psychiatric disorders and chronic pain, providing a new frontier in brain circuit modulation.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·September 30, 2024·5 min read

Genetic Variants Linked to Alzheimer’s Trigger Inflammation in Females

Researchers have discovered that two genetic variants, APOE4 and TREM2 R47H, together cause a harmful inflammatory response in brain immune cells, particularly in females. This response leads to more severe brain damage, including tau protein clumps, which are linked to Alzheimer’s disease progression.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 28, 2024·3 min read

Prewired For Depression? Brain Scans Reveal Network Linked to Depression

Researchers have identified a unique brain network pattern that may predispose some people to depression. By repeatedly scanning patients’ brains, they found that individuals with larger salience networks were more likely to develop depression over time.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·August 19, 2024·5 min read

Ancient DNA Markers Predict Aging with New Epigenetic Clock

Researchers have developed an epigenetic clock, "Retro-Age," that predicts biological age by analyzing DNA markers from ancient viral remnants in the human genome. This study highlights how the reactivation of these retroelements, such as HERVs and LINEs, impacts aging, inflammation, and genomic stability. The findings suggest that monitoring these markers could guide anti-aging therapies and improve health outcomes, particularly in conditions like HIV. The research also opens avenues for exploring treatments that may reverse the biological effects of aging.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·July 16, 2024·5 min read

AI Identifies Three Parkinson’s Subtypes

Researchers used machine learning to identify three subtypes of Parkinson’s disease based on progression speed. These subtypes, marked by distinct genetic drivers, could enhance diagnosis and treatment strategies.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 30, 2024·4 min read

Astrocyte Receptors Impact Memory Differently in Men and Women

Researchers discovered that astrocyte receptors impact cognitive function differently in male and female preclinical models. The study reveals that astrocytic signaling cannot be assumed to have the same cognitive effects across sexes. This finding suggests that therapies targeting astrocytic receptors may need to consider sex-specific impacts.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 26, 2024·4 min read

Maternal Cytokine Levels Linked to Child’s Mental Health

Researchers discovered a critical role for the cytokine XCL1 in fetal brain development and the emotional behavior of offspring, challenging previous assumptions about its low impact due to minimal circulating levels during pregnancy. The study shows that a temporary spike in maternal XCL1 is essential for proper placental development and regulating fear behavior in male offspring.

This shows a baby in a field of flowers.

Featured Neuroscience

·March 18, 2024·6 min read

Serotonin-Producing Gut Bacteria in Newborns Shields Against Allergies

New research highlights the critical role of unique gut bacteria in newborns, producing serotonin to educate immune cells and prevent allergic reactions early in life. The study reveals that these bacteria encourage the development of T-regulatory cells, crucial for suppressing inappropriate immune responses and preventing autoimmune diseases.

Autism Featured

·April 8, 2023·6 min read

Four Different Autism Subtypes Identified by Brain Activity

Using a combination of machine learning and neuroimaging data, researchers report people on the autism spectrum can be classified into four different subtype groups based on brain activity and behavior.

Featured Neuroscience

·October 14, 2022·4 min read

Pain-Sensing Gut Neurons Protect Against Inflammation

Pain-sensing neurons in the put secrete substance P, a molecule that protects against gut inflammation and tissue damage by boosting specific microbes in the gut. In people with inflammatory bowel disease, the pain-sensing neurons are diminished and there are significant disruptions in pain-signaling genes.