Optogenetics News and Research

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Unveiling the Cerebellar Nuclei’s Role in Associative Learning

The regulation of associative learning was traditionally believed to be controlled by the cortex within the cerebellum, commonly known as the “little brain.”

21 Nov 2023

The Factors Influencing Egg Cell Development

According to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Northwestern Medicine scientists discovered how cytoskeletal proteins influence the growth of developing eggs in fruit flies, findings that advance the field’s understanding of how egg cells form and distinguish themselves from other sister cells.

11 Oct 2023

Scientists Discover How Brain's "Population Clock" Guides Behavior

From Aristotle's musings on the nature of time to Einstein's theory of relativity, humanity has long pondered: how do we perceive and understand time? The theory of relativity posits that time can stretch and contract, a phenomenon known as time dilation. Just as the cosmos warps time, our neural circuits can stretch and compress our subjective experience of time. As Einstein famously quipped, "Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour. Sit with a pretty girl for an hour, and it seems like a minute".

14 Jul 2023

First 'Living Digital Camera' Stores Images in DNA

In a world first, a 'biological camera' bypasses the constraints of current DNA storage methods, harnessing living cells and their inherent biological mechanisms to encode and store data.

12 Jul 2023

New Technology can Help Probe the Connections Between the Brain and Gut

The brain and the digestive tract are in constant communication, relaying signals that help to control feeding and other behaviors.

23 Jun 2023

Metabolic reactions upon activating Akt2 enzyme revealed

Takeaki Ozawa and his team from the University of Tokyo reveal the metabolic reactions upon activating an enzyme called Akt2.

22 Feb 2023

Nearly two million-euro ERC Consolidator Grant supports research on fruit fly's locomotion

When we try walking in a straight line with our eyes closed, after a few steps forward we inevitably deviate from our intended path.

1 Feb 2023

MIT researchers use specialized MRI sensor to detect light deep within tissues

Using a specialized MRI sensor, MIT researchers have shown that they can detect light deep within tissues such as the brain.

3 Jan 2023

Optogenetic control of mitochondria–lysosome contacts induce mitochondrial fission with spatiotemporal accuracy

Researchers from UC, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and the University at Buffalo demonstrated that light-activated proteins can help normalize dysfunction within cells.

8 Aug 2022

New technique uses microscopic magnetic particles to remotely activate brain cells

Scientists at UCL have developed a new technique that uses microscopic magnetic particles to remotely activate brain cells; researchers say the discovery in rats could potentially lead to the development of a new class of non-invasive therapies for neurological disorders.

From University College London 24 Feb 2022

Novel method for controlled interrogation and recording of neuronal activity

A new approach for regulated interrogation and recording of neuronal activity was developed by scientists at the University of Freiburg.

24 Feb 2022

Hemoglobin plays role as a chemosensory signal for mother mice to protect offspring

Biochemists in Japan were surprised to discover that the molecule hemoglobin in the blood works not only as an oxygen carrier, but when the blood is spilled as a result of aggression, accident or predator attack, the molecule also acts as a chemosensory signal -; a chemical stimulus picked up by the senses, namely smell in this case -; for lactating mother mice, prompting digging or rearing behavior in them to check the surrounding environment and keep their offspring safe.

11 Feb 2022

Light, Scintillator, Action! X-rays can Control Neuron Function and Behavior

A group of scientists revealed a novel X-ray technique that allows control of neural function deep in the brain without causing any damage.

29 Jul 2021

Optogenetic control of stomatal guard cells could help prevent transpiration in plants

Stomata, the small microscopic pores present on leaves in plants, aids in regulating the influx of carbon dioxide for photosynthesis.

13 Jul 2021

Researchers construct smallest and cheapest high-resolution microscope

An international team led by researchers of the University of Barcelona builds the smallest and cheapest high-resolution microscope to date.

From University of Barcelona 10 Mar 2021

Neuronal and glial circuits form loosely coupled super-network within the brain

Tohoku University scientists have shown that neuronal and glial circuits form a loosely coupled super-network within the brain.

25 Feb 2021

Light-activated protein can be used to study single synapses of neurons

Neurons are the primary cells of the nervous system, and the signals that are transmitted between them are responsible for all our actions and our cognitive ability.

10 Feb 2021

Researchers use different colors of light to control gut bacteria genes

Baylor College of Medicine researcher Meng Wang had already shown that bacteria that make a metabolite called colanic acid (CA) could extend the lifespan of worms in her lab by as much as 50%, but her collaboration with Rice University synthetic biologist Jeffrey Tabor is providing tools to answer the bigger question of how the metabolite imparts longer life.

23 Dec 2020