Neurons News and Research

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Caffeine therapy benefits developing brains of premature babies

For many, starting the day off with caffeine from a cup of coffee is a must. In neonatal intensive care units, or NICUs, premature babies born under 29 weeks are given a daily dose of caffeine to ensure the best possible start to life.

12 Dec 2018

New method helps better understand pathological development of ALS

The neurodegenerative disease ALS causes motor neuron death and paralysis. However, long before the cells die, they lose contact with the muscles as their axons atrophy.

12 Dec 2018

Study reveals role of brain mechanism in memory recall

Whether it's the pleasant experience of returning to one's childhood home over the holidays or the unease of revisiting a site that proved unpleasant, we often find that when we return to a context where an episode first happened, specific and vivid memories can come flooding back.

12 Dec 2018

Targeting biochemical pathway may lead to new therapies for alleviating symptoms of anxiety disorders

According to some estimates, up to one in three people around the world may experience severe anxiety in their lifetime.

12 Dec 2018

Scientists use water molecules to track electrical activity of nerve cells

Researchers have discovered a new way to monitor electrical activity in nerve cells; by observing water molecules surrounding neuronal membranes.

11 Dec 2018

New method uses water molecules to unlock neurons' secrets

Neurons are brain cells that communicate with each other by sending electrochemical signals along axons. When a neuron is about to release a signal - in the form of an electric charge - it allows ions to pass through its membrane via ion channels.

11 Dec 2018

New study reveals yin-yang personality of dopamine

For decades, psychologists have viewed the neurotransmitter dopamine as a double-edged sword: released in the brain as a reward to train us to seek out pleasurable experiences, but also a "drug" the constant pursuit of which leads to addiction.

11 Dec 2018

Ezogabine treatment reduces motor neuron excitability in ALS patients, study shows

Brian Wainger, MD, PhD, of the Healey Center for ALS at Massachusetts General Hospital presented initial, top-level results of a recently completed phase 2 clinical trial of ezogabine (also called retigabine) on December 9 at the Motor Neurone Disease Association annual meeting in Glasgow, Scotland.

11 Dec 2018

Researchers explore how glial cells develop in the brain from neural precursor cells

Two types of cells are active in the brain: nerve cells and glial cells. The latter have long been regarded primarily as supportive cells, but it is increasingly recognized that they play an active role in the communication between neurons in the brain.

10 Dec 2018

High-intensity interval exercise could help combat cognitive dysfunction in obese people

It's fast-paced, takes less time to do, and burns a lot of calories. High-intensity interval exercise is widely recognized as the most time-efficient and effective way to exercise.

10 Dec 2018

Novel nanowire memristor to artificially reproduce functions of biological synapses

Emulating and understanding the human brain is one of the most important challenges for modern technology: on the one hand, the ability to artificially reproduce the processing of brain signals is one of the cornerstones for the development of artificial intelligence, while on the other the understanding of the cognitive processes at the base of the human mind is still far away.

10 Dec 2018

Novel therapeutic targets based on biology of aging show promise for Alzheimer's disease

A scientific strategy that explores therapeutic targets based on the biology of aging is gaining ground as an effective approach to prevent and treat Alzheimer's disease, according to research published in the December 7, 2018 online issue of Neurology.

10 Dec 2018

Neuronal activity in the brain allows prediction of risky or safe decisions

Full risk or preferably the safe option? Based on the neuronal activity in the prefrontal cortex of the brain, it is possible to predict what action will be chosen next: If the activity of specific neurons remains low, a risk will be taken again at the next opportunity.

9 Dec 2018

New EU-funded project provides insight into how the brain develops

The human brain is comprised of billions of different types of cells. These cells are then organized into sophisticated networks, each of which determines a specific function of the brain. But how do the neurons, or nerve cells that form these networks, find the right network? And what happens when they don’t?

6 Dec 2018

UCR postdoctoral researcher wins prestigious NIH fellowship to study neural crest cells

Rebekah Charney, a postdoctoral researcher in the School of Medicine at the University of California, Riverside, has been awarded the prestigious Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research of the National Institutes of Health.

6 Dec 2018

Mapping brain microglia

Microglia are known to be important to brain function. The immune cells have been found to protect the brain from injury and infection and are critical during brain development, helping circuits wire properly. They also seem to play a role in disease -- showing up, for example, around brain plaques in people with Alzheimer's.

6 Dec 2018

Individual neurons located within the brain have implications for psychiatric diseases

Everyone makes little everyday mistakes out of habit--a waiter says, "Enjoy your meal," and you respond with, "You, too!" before realizing that the person is not, in fact, going to be enjoying your meal.

6 Dec 2018

Researchers create new light-activated tools for controlling neurons

By enabling super-fast remote control of specific cells, light-activated proteins allow researchers to study the function of individual neurons within a large network - even an entire brain. Now one of the pioneers of 'optogenetics' and colleagues have created two new tools - protein pores which when illuminated allow Ca2+ into cells or K+ out - for switching neurons on or off using light.

6 Dec 2018

Scientists understand how sounds can incite fear

How is it that a sound can send a chill down your spine? By observing individual brain cells of mice, scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory are understanding how a sound can incite fear.

5 Dec 2018

Researcher takes further steps in understanding how and why cute aggression occurs

Have you ever looked at a puppy and had the urge to squeeze or even bite it? Or felt compelled to pinch a baby's cheeks, albeit without a desire to harm it? If you answered yes to either question, you've experienced a phenomenon called cute aggression -- and you're far from alone.

5 Dec 2018

Neurons News and Research

Caffeine therapy benefits developing brains of premature babies

New method helps better understand pathological development of ALS

Study reveals role of brain mechanism in memory recall

Targeting biochemical pathway may lead to new therapies for alleviating symptoms of anxiety disorders

Scientists use water molecules to track electrical activity of nerve cells

New method uses water molecules to unlock neurons' secrets

New study reveals yin-yang personality of dopamine

Ezogabine treatment reduces motor neuron excitability in ALS patients, study shows

Researchers explore how glial cells develop in the brain from neural precursor cells

High-intensity interval exercise could help combat cognitive dysfunction in obese people

Novel nanowire memristor to artificially reproduce functions of biological synapses

Novel therapeutic targets based on biology of aging show promise for Alzheimer's disease

Neuronal activity in the brain allows prediction of risky or safe decisions

New EU-funded project provides insight into how the brain develops

UCR postdoctoral researcher wins prestigious NIH fellowship to study neural crest cells

Mapping brain microglia

Individual neurons located within the brain have implications for psychiatric diseases

Researchers create new light-activated tools for controlling neurons

Scientists understand how sounds can incite fear

Researcher takes further steps in understanding how and why cute aggression occurs

eBook: Advancing neurodegenerative research with iPSC-derived microglia models eBook

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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