Brain News and Research

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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.

Genetic signature might be shared across multiple substance use disorders, new study reveals

A new study has revealed a common genetic signature that seems to underlie multiple substance use disorders.

22 Mar 2023

T cell-driven changes in the gut may affect brain function associated with depression

In experiments with mice and humans, a team led by Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers says it has identified a particular intestinal immune cell that impacts the gut microbiome, which in turn may affect brain functions linked to stress-induced disorders such as depression.

21 Mar 2023

DNA drugs help restore the normal processing of protein-encoding RNA

A protein named TDP-43 has been lost from its normal location in the nucleus of the cell in virtually all persons having amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and in up to half of all cases of frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

From UC San Diego 20 Mar 2023

Study discovers the ability of certain blood immune cells to proliferate

The ability of a cell to divide, to proliferate, is essential for life and gives rise to the formation of complex organisms from a single cell.

20 Mar 2023

Delaying paralysis in ALS by using designer DNA drug

In virtually all persons with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and in up to half of all cases of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and frontotemporal dementia, a protein called TDP-43 is lost from its normal location in the nucleus of the cell.

20 Mar 2023

Emergence and spread of a deadly fungus among African amphibians

For the past few years, how a virus triggered a global pandemic has dominated conversations. Now, thanks to the TV show "The Last of Us" (about an apocalypse triggered by brain-eating 'shrooms), fungi have infected popular culture.

16 Mar 2023

Spatial Computing theory could explain the brain's flexible working memory

Brain applies rhythms to physical patches of the cortex to selectively control just the right neurons at the right times to do the right things.

16 Mar 2023

Unique region of the brain's cortex used when visually navigating an area by foot

Using vision to efficiently move through an area by foot uses a unique region of the brain's cortex, according to a small study funded by the National Eye Institute.

16 Mar 2023

Study reveals the cellular composition and circuit organization of the locus coeruleus

A small nucleus in the brainstem called locus coeruleus (literally the "blue spot,") is the primary source of a major neuromodulator, norepinephrine (NE), an important mediator of the 'fight or flight' response in animals. However, very little is known about the local connections of this small albeit critically important group of neurons.

16 Mar 2023

First molecular images of olfaction sets the stage to create novel smells

Breaking a longstanding impasse in our understanding of olfaction, scientists at UC San Francisco (UCSF) have created the first molecular-level, 3D picture of how an odor molecule activates a human odorant receptor, a crucial step in deciphering the sense of smell.

16 Mar 2023

Aston University receives funding for the development of a diagnostic tool for children with brain tumors

Birmingham based charity, Help Harry Help Others and Aston University researchers, are working together to develop a pioneering pre-surgical diagnostic tool, which could see the eventual outcome of children with brain tumors drastically improve.

15 Mar 2023

Research reports distinct patterns of reward-seeking behavior between OCD and problem gambling

Shinsuke Suzuki at The University of Melbourne, Australia reports distinct patterns of reward-seeking behavior between obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and problem gambling, in a study publishing in the open access journal PLOS Biology on March 14th. OCD is associated with lower-than-normal learning rates when rewards are less than expected. On the other hand, people with problem gambling exhibit boosted and blunted learning from rewards higher and lower than expected, respectively.

15 Mar 2023

Significance of astrocyte–neuron interactions in fine-tuning brain function

Humans learn to handle a variety of skilled movements throughout their lives, from driving a car to swinging a tennis racket. Neurons are not the only ones who implement this learning, but a new study from The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory at MIT shows that astrocytes play an important role as well.

From Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) 14 Mar 2023

Analyzing the antimicrobial resistance profile of the main agent of urinary tract infections

The human intestine is an environment inhabited by many bacteria and other microorganisms collectively known as the gut microbiome, gut microbiota or intestinal flora. In most people, it contributes to wellness. A healthy gut indicates a stronger immune system, improved metabolism, and a healthy brain and heart, among other functions.

14 Mar 2023

Protecting normal cells from chemotherapy, while eliminating drug-resistant cancer cells

A new review paper was published in Oncotarget's Volume 14 on March 11, 2023, entitled, "Selective protection of normal cells from chemotherapy, while killing drug-resistant cancer cells."

14 Mar 2023

Study investigates schizophrenia risk across African ancestry

Researchers have identified two previously unknown genes linked to schizophrenia and newly implicated a third gene as carrying risk for both schizophrenia and autism. Led by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, the multi-center study further demonstrated that the schizophrenia risk conferred by these rare damaging variants is conserved across ethnicities. The study may also point to new therapeutics.

14 Mar 2023

Novel model tracks hippocampal synaptic plasticity to reveal molecular mechanisms

The accumulation of amyloid beta proteins, which encourage synaptic malfunction, causes cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), according to scientific evidence.

10 Mar 2023

Scientists shed new light on aging processes in the brain

Scientists from the Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute (TBSI) have shed new light on aging processes in the brain.

9 Mar 2023

Small group of airway neurons plays a key role in alerting the brain about infection

A new study led by researchers at Harvard Medical School illuminates how the brain becomes aware that there is an infection in the body.

9 Mar 2023

Monitoring the development and maturation of cardiomyocytes using tissue-embedded devices

Research in animal models has demonstrated that stem-cell derived heart tissues have promising potential for therapeutic applications to treat cardiac disease. But before such therapies are viable and safe for use in humans, scientists must first precisely understand on the cellular and molecular levels which factors are necessary for implanted stem-cell derived heart cells to properly grow and integrate in three dimensions within surrounding tissue.

9 Mar 2023

Brain News and Research

Genetic signature might be shared across multiple substance use disorders, new study reveals

T cell-driven changes in the gut may affect brain function associated with depression

DNA drugs help restore the normal processing of protein-encoding RNA

Study discovers the ability of certain blood immune cells to proliferate

Delaying paralysis in ALS by using designer DNA drug

Emergence and spread of a deadly fungus among African amphibians

Spatial Computing theory could explain the brain's flexible working memory

Unique region of the brain's cortex used when visually navigating an area by foot

Study reveals the cellular composition and circuit organization of the locus coeruleus

First molecular images of olfaction sets the stage to create novel smells

Aston University receives funding for the development of a diagnostic tool for children with brain tumors

Research reports distinct patterns of reward-seeking behavior between OCD and problem gambling

Significance of astrocyte–neuron interactions in fine-tuning brain function

Analyzing the antimicrobial resistance profile of the main agent of urinary tract infections

Protecting normal cells from chemotherapy, while eliminating drug-resistant cancer cells

Study investigates schizophrenia risk across African ancestry

Novel model tracks hippocampal synaptic plasticity to reveal molecular mechanisms

Scientists shed new light on aging processes in the brain

Small group of airway neurons plays a key role in alerting the brain about infection

Monitoring the development and maturation of cardiomyocytes using tissue-embedded devices

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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