Neuron News and Research

RSS

Brain's dual role in processing touch and hearing revealed

Ludwig van Beethoven began to lose his hearing at age 28 and was deaf by age 44. While the cause of his hearing loss remains a topic of scientific debate and ongoing revision, one thing is clear: Despite his hearing loss, Beethoven never ceased to compose music, likely because he was able to sense the vibrations of musical instruments and "hear" music through the sense of touch, researchers believe.

19 Dec 2024

Zebrafish study uncovers how ketamine affects brain cells to treat depression

The decades-old anesthetic ketamine could be a game changer for treating severe depression, but there are still many questions about how the drug works, including exactly how it affects the brain's cells and circuits.

17 Dec 2024

Researchers gain new insights into the molecular changes leading to Rett syndrome

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine, Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute (Duncan NRI) at Texas Children's Hospital and collaborating institutions have gained new insights into the molecular changes leading to Rett syndrome, a severe neurological disorder caused by mutations in the MeCP2 gene encoding methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2).

16 Dec 2024

TTUHSC researcher to uncover mechanisms that regulate gene expression in Alzheimer's disease

More than six million Americans are affected by Alzheimer's disease, a form of dementia marked by accumulation of amyloid-β within the brain. Amyloid-β is a relatively small protein that forms toxic plaques in the brain contributing to the harmful effects of Alzheimer's disease.

14 Dec 2024

Key plasma proteins signal critical periods in brain aging

Researchers identified 13 plasma proteins linked to brain aging, uncovering dynamic patterns and biomarkers for early intervention in aging-related brain health.

10 Dec 2024

Scripps Research develops brain-inspired AI for real-time video analysis

Imagine an artificial intelligence (AI) model that can watch and understand moving images with the subtlety of a human brain.

9 Dec 2024

The brain’s hunger switch: TRH neurons hold the key to obesity therapies

Scientists uncover how TRH neurons suppress hunger by inhibiting AgRP neurons, advancing our understanding of GLP-1-based obesity treatments.

9 Dec 2024

Understanding how the skin's neurons process social touch signals

Two types of neurons in the skin may be particularly important for how the brain interprets social contact between people, according to a new study led by Linköping University in Sweden.

6 Dec 2024

Study: Brain volume changes correlate with social behavior differences in psychiatric conditions

A study published in Molecular Psychiatry found that brain volume changes correlate with social behavior differences in psychiatric conditions such as autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia.

6 Dec 2024

Hypothalamic deep brain stimulation restores walking after spinal cord injury

Scientists have identified neurons in the lateral hypothalamus that can be targeted through deep brain stimulation to improve walking after spinal cord injury (SCI). This innovative approach shows promise in both animal models and initial human trials, paving the way for groundbreaking treatments.

2 Dec 2024

Study challenges long-standing understanding of axon structure

Biology textbooks may need a revision, say Johns Hopkins Medicine scientists, who present new evidence that an armlike structure of mammalian brain cells may be a different shape than scientists have assumed for more than a century.

2 Dec 2024

New model can explain neural and behavioral differences in autism spectrum disorder

Researchers Dr. Yuval Hart and Oded Wertheimer from the Psychology department and the Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Science (ELSC) at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem have developed a new computational model to explain neural and behavioral differences in autism spectrum disorder.

28 Nov 2024

Research shows "Alzheimer's in a dish" model can accelerate drug discovery

A decade ago, researchers introduced a new model for studying Alzheimer's disease. Known as "Alzheimer's in a dish," the model uses cultures of mature brain cells suspended in a gel to recapitulate what takes place in the human brain over 10 to 13 years in just six weeks.

27 Nov 2024

New discovery in the peripheral nervous system could help control obesity

An international team of researchers has discovered a new component of the peripheral nervous system that acts by increasing energy metabolism in the body.

25 Nov 2024

Researchers identify brain circuit behind sexual rejection in females

A team from the Champalimaud Foundation (CF) has pinpointed a critical neural circuit for sexual rejection, identifying a set of brain cells that play a crucial role in determining whether a female accepts or rejects mating attempts based on her reproductive cycle.

25 Nov 2024

Researchers develop new approach to effectively deliver therapeutics into the brain

Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have developed an innovative approach - demonstrated in mouse models and isolated human brain tissue - to safely and effectively deliver therapeutics into the brain, providing new possibilities for treating a wide range of neurological and psychiatric diseases.

25 Nov 2024