Optogenetics News and Research

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Researchers receive $2.1 million NIH grant to study causes of congenital heart defects

Congenital heart defects are the most common type of birth defect, affecting nearly 1% of births in the United States each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Doctors have been unable to lower that number due to a lack of knowledge about their source.

5 Jan 2021

New tool may help monitor serotonin transmission with greater fidelity than current methods

Serotonin is a neurochemical that plays a critical role in the way the brain controls our thoughts and feelings.

23 Dec 2020

Research shows how colanic acid extends lifespan in C. elegans

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.

22 Dec 2020

Researchers control cardiac waves with light to study abnormally rapid heart rhythms

Over 300,000 people die each year in the U.S. due to sudden cardiac death. In many cases, sudden cardiac death is caused by abnormally rapid heart rhythms called tachycardias, which means the heart cannot pump adequate blood to the body.

22 Dec 2020

Scientists shed light on how neurons form long-term memories

On a late summer day in 1953, a young man who would soon be known as patient H.M. underwent experimental surgery. In an attempt to treat his debilitating seizures, a surgeon removed portions of his brain, including part of a structure called the hippocampus. The seizures stopped.

9 Dec 2020

MIT study shows how the brain is wired for reactive, reflexive movements

When riding your bike to the store you might have two very different reasons to steer: plain old reflex when you something dart into your path, or executive control when you see street signs that indicate the correct route.

1 Dec 2020

Study pinpoints specific areas of the brain where serotonin promotes patience

We've all been there. Whether we're stuck in traffic at the end of a long day, or eagerly anticipating the release of a new book, film or album, there are times when we need to be patient.

27 Nov 2020

UNC scientists find brain cells that help drive arousal responses to strong emotions

Strong emotions such as fear and anxiety tend to be accompanied and reinforced by measurable bodily changes including increased blood pressure, heart rate and respiration, and dilation of the eyes' pupils. These so-called "physiological arousal responses" are often abnormally high or low in psychiatric illnesses such as anxiety disorders and depression.

23 Nov 2020

Researchers use optogenetics to mitigate addiction-related behaviors

In the United States alone, over 14 million adults suffer from alcohol use disorder. For those that seek treatment, 90% will experience at least one relapse within the first four years.

19 Nov 2020

Study: Optogenetic stimulation of circuit improves symptomatology of Huntington's disease

Huntington's disease is an hereditary neurodegenerative disease featured by alterations in movement, cognitive deficiency and psychiatric disorders resulting from the degeneration of neurons in the striatum nucleus of the brain.

11 Nov 2020

Researchers to develop new optogenetic tools for biology and medicine

The European Research Council (ERC) is providing 10 million euros in funding for an interdisciplinary, collaborative project in the structural and biophysical analysis of selected photoreceptors and their development into "OptoGPCRs", light-controlled molecular switches with a wide range of applications in biology and medicine.

8 Nov 2020

Sleep could be targeted to improve post-stroke recovery, study shows

Until today neurorehabilitation is the only approach that promotes recovery after stroke. Researchers at the Neurology Department of the University of Bern and Inselspital have provided first evidence that sleep could be targeted to improve post-stroke recovery.

28 Oct 2020

Neuroscientists use advanced techniques to study the brain's navigation ability

Whether or not we're aware of it, humans -- animals in general -- constantly use environmental cues to navigate from one place to another.

27 Oct 2020

Researchers develop a novel way to simplify cellular optogenetic tools

Cellular optogenetics is a technique that allows researchers to use light to precisely control cell signaling and function in space and time enabling the investigation of mechanisms involved in disease processes.

22 Oct 2020

Improving sleep after trauma exposure may ease negative consequences

Increasing the amount of time spent asleep immediately after a traumatic experience may ease any negative consequences, suggests a new study conducted by researchers at Washington State University's Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine.

22 Oct 2020

New technique uses light to modify disease signaling

Most diseases are caused by aberrant cell signaling processes and basic research in cell signaling is needed to identify targets for future therapeutic approaches, especially in cases where no cures or effective treatments are currently available.

22 Oct 2020

Introducing the OpenStand Motorized Optical Stand

Introducing the OpenStand Motorized Optical Stand, the latest from Prior Scientific

From Prior Scientific Instruments Ltd. 16 Oct 2020

New discovery of an interaction between sensory neurons and immune cells

Pain is a protective mechanism, alerting us to danger by generating an unpleasant sensation. The warning message is carried to the spinal cord by specialized sensory neurons, which are intertwined with other sensory and motor neurons in peripheral nerves.

21 Sep 2020

Researchers discuss the role of chemical senses in disease and social interactions in humans, animals

Across 5 days in August (3rd-7th), scientists from around the world gathered virtually to present and discuss new information on the role of the chemical senses in disease, nutrition, and social interactions in humans and animals.

9 Sep 2020

New book series advances the development of pharmaceutical agents for treating neurological, CNS disorders

Frontiers in Clinical Drug Research - CNS and Neurological Disorders is a book series that brings updated reviews to readers interested in advances in the development of pharmaceutical agents for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) and other nerve disorders.

21 Aug 2020

Optogenetics News and Research

Researchers receive $2.1 million NIH grant to study causes of congenital heart defects

New tool may help monitor serotonin transmission with greater fidelity than current methods

Research shows how colanic acid extends lifespan in C. elegans

Researchers control cardiac waves with light to study abnormally rapid heart rhythms

Scientists shed light on how neurons form long-term memories

MIT study shows how the brain is wired for reactive, reflexive movements

Study pinpoints specific areas of the brain where serotonin promotes patience

UNC scientists find brain cells that help drive arousal responses to strong emotions

Researchers use optogenetics to mitigate addiction-related behaviors

Study: Optogenetic stimulation of circuit improves symptomatology of Huntington's disease

Researchers to develop new optogenetic tools for biology and medicine

Sleep could be targeted to improve post-stroke recovery, study shows

Neuroscientists use advanced techniques to study the brain's navigation ability

Researchers develop a novel way to simplify cellular optogenetic tools

Improving sleep after trauma exposure may ease negative consequences

New technique uses light to modify disease signaling

Introducing the OpenStand Motorized Optical Stand

New discovery of an interaction between sensory neurons and immune cells

Researchers discuss the role of chemical senses in disease and social interactions in humans, animals

New book series advances the development of pharmaceutical agents for treating neurological, CNS disorders

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