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The human brain is the center of the human nervous system and is a highly complex organ. Enclosed in the cranium, it has the same general structure as the brains of other mammals, but is over three times as large as the brain of a typical mammal with an equivalent body size.

How the Brain Controls its Cravings for Water and Salt

For terrestrial creatures, including humans, to survive, they must drink plenty of water and eat enough salt. Neural pathways comprising many brain regions intriguingly control both thirst and salt appetite.

29 Jan 2024

Promoter Mutations and Their Association with Autism Risk

The RIKEN Center for Brain Science (CBS) employed genome mutation analysis to investigate the genetics of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in people and their families. They found that the way a certain type of genetic mutation contributes to the illness differs from that of ordinary mutations.

29 Jan 2024

Study Sheds Light on a Decades-Long Mystery About How Retinal Photoreceptors Work

Working with mammalian retinal cells, neuroscientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine have shown that, unlike most light-sensing cells (photoreceptors) in the retina, one special type uses two different pathways at the same time to transmit electrical "vision" signals to the brain.

27 Jan 2024

Pain-Triggered Oxytocin in the Brain Leads Mice to Shun Bullies

Mice, like humans, fight for mates and territory, form intricate social groups, and learn when it is safer to stay away from particular opponents.

25 Jan 2024

A New Tool for Monitoring Neuronal Inhibition

By tracking when distinct subsets of brain cells activate, researchers have understood the complex activity patterns found in both human and animal brains for many years. Knowing how long those neurons stay active and when they turn off again is crucial to understanding the brain and its associated disorders.

24 Jan 2024

Traffic Jam in the Brain: Study Uncovers Cellular Cause of Rare Neurological Disease

Researchers from McGill University, led by Professor Alanna Watt of the Department of Biology, have identified previously unknown changes in brain cells affected by a neurological disease.

22 Jan 2024

Stem Cell-Derived Brain Organoids on Ax-3 Mission Seek to Improve Modeling for Neurodegenerative Diseases

More than 5 million people worldwide are living with neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s disease and primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS).

19 Jan 2024

Mathematical Model Unravels Brain Connectivity

Across all species, the functioning of the brain relies on a complex network of connections that enables neurons to exchange information, governing both thought processes and physical activities.

18 Jan 2024

New Technology Enables Minimally-Invasive, High-Resolution Recording of Brain Activity

Sensors built with a new manufacturing approach are capable of recording activity deep within the brain from large populations of individual neurons–with a resolution of as few as one or two neurons–in humans as well as a range of animal models, according to a study published in the Jan. 17, 2024 issue of the journal Nature Communications.

18 Jan 2024

Universal Networking Principles Wire Up Different Brains

A new study by physicists and neuroscientists from the University of Chicago, Harvard and Yale describes how connectivity among neurons comes about through general principles of networking and self-organization, rather than the biological features of an individual organism.

18 Jan 2024

Algal Blooms May Pose More Health Risks Than Previously Thought

Florida's 156-mile-long Indian River Lagoon (IRL) borders five different counties and has five inlets that connect the lagoon with the Atlantic Ocean.

16 Jan 2024

Simple Blood Test Uncovers Gene Expression Secrets

The brain is the most protected organ in the body, sheathed in a complex and nearly impenetrable barrier of specialized blood vessels.

12 Jan 2024

Unexpected Situations Trigger Chandelier Cell Activity

According to a recent study from the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, certain brain cells, known as chandelier cells, become active in unexpected circumstances.

11 Jan 2024

Tracking Genes in the Brain Via Non-Invasive Methods

With its intricate network of specialized blood arteries forming a nearly impenetrable barrier, the brain is the most protected organ in the body.

11 Jan 2024

Exploring the Dual Role of Phosphorylated α-Synuclein in Healthy Neural Function

It has been found by researchers that phosphorylated α-synuclein, a protein linked to a number of neurodegenerative illnesses, including Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia, is also engaged in the regular processes of neuronal communication in a healthy brain.

10 Jan 2024

Ancient DNA Reveals Reason for High Multiple Sclerosis and Alzheimer’s Rates in Europe

Researchers have created the world’s largest ancient human gene bank by analysing the bones and teeth of almost 5,000 humans who lived across western Europe and Asia up to 34,000 years ago.

10 Jan 2024

Key Cytokine Pairs Driving Sepsis Damage Identified

One of the main causes of death in the ICU is sepsis, which is the result of an infection that causes the immune system to mistakenly target the body.

9 Jan 2024

Brain's Internal Compass Found to Hold Key to Episodic Memory Formation

Researchers at the University of Tübingen have uncovered new roles for head-direction cells, which may have an impact on the development of episodic memory.

8 Jan 2024

Largest Gestational Diabetes Study Reveals 9 New Genetic Regions

The largest genetic study of gestational diabetes to date has led to a discovery of nine novel genetic regions linked to this severe and common pregnancy complication.

8 Jan 2024

B12-Producing Gut Bacteria Modulate Neurotransmitter Levels and Reduce Seizures in C. elegans

A new study published in Nature Cell Biology by Mark Alkema, PhD, professor of neurobiology, establishes an important molecular link between specific B12-producing bacteria in the gut of the roundworm C. elegans and the production of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter important to memory and cognitive function.

5 Jan 2024

Brain News and Research

How the Brain Controls its Cravings for Water and Salt

Promoter Mutations and Their Association with Autism Risk

Study Sheds Light on a Decades-Long Mystery About How Retinal Photoreceptors Work

Pain-Triggered Oxytocin in the Brain Leads Mice to Shun Bullies

A New Tool for Monitoring Neuronal Inhibition

Traffic Jam in the Brain: Study Uncovers Cellular Cause of Rare Neurological Disease

Stem Cell-Derived Brain Organoids on Ax-3 Mission Seek to Improve Modeling for Neurodegenerative Diseases

Mathematical Model Unravels Brain Connectivity

New Technology Enables Minimally-Invasive, High-Resolution Recording of Brain Activity

Universal Networking Principles Wire Up Different Brains

Algal Blooms May Pose More Health Risks Than Previously Thought

Simple Blood Test Uncovers Gene Expression Secrets

Unexpected Situations Trigger Chandelier Cell Activity

Tracking Genes in the Brain Via Non-Invasive Methods

Exploring the Dual Role of Phosphorylated α-Synuclein in Healthy Neural Function

Ancient DNA Reveals Reason for High Multiple Sclerosis and Alzheimer’s Rates in Europe

Key Cytokine Pairs Driving Sepsis Damage Identified

Brain's Internal Compass Found to Hold Key to Episodic Memory Formation

Largest Gestational Diabetes Study Reveals 9 New Genetic Regions

B12-Producing Gut Bacteria Modulate Neurotransmitter Levels and Reduce Seizures in C. elegans

Driving Support for Pharmaceutical Testing Through Continuous Innovation

From Memory to Metaplasticity: Unraveling the Brain's Secrets

Revolutionizing Mass Spectrometry: A Deep Dive into Plasmion’s SICRIT® Technology

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