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Scientists create detailed single-cell map of the developing human brain

Scientists from Duke-NUS Medical School and their collaborators have created one of the most comprehensive single cell maps of the developing human brain. The atlas captures nearly every cell type, their genetic fingerprints, and how they grow and interact.

3 Nov 2025

Neuroscientists uncover a surprising role for "Frazzled" protein in the nervous system of fruit flies

Florida Atlantic University neuroscientists have uncovered a surprising role for a protein named "Frazzled" (known as DCC in mammals) in the nervous system of fruit flies, showing how it helps neurons connect and communicate with lightning speed.

31 Oct 2025

Genetic insights into vestibular system damage from ototoxic drugs

The vestibular system is responsible for the sense of balance in the inner ear. Prolonged use of toxic substances, such as certain antibiotics or anticancer drugs, can damage the hair cells that form part of this system, leading to alterations in balance and other motor skills.

31 Oct 2025

New method enhances precision in bionic limb movement interpretation

Despite enormous progress in the past two decades, the intentional control of bionic prostheses remains a challenge and the subject of intensive research.

31 Oct 2025

Mathematical models explain food movement and churning in the digestive tract

Synchronization abounds in nature: from the flashing lights of fireflies to the movement of fish wriggling through the ocean, biological systems are often in rhythmic movement with each other.

31 Oct 2025

How nerve cells in the gut adapt to microbial and immune challenges

Ramnik Xavier, MD, PhD, of the Department of Molecular Biology at Massachusetts General Hospital, is the senior author of a paper published in Science, "Regional encoding of enteric nervous system responses to microbiota and type 2 inflammation."

31 Oct 2025

Sensory effects of flavanols trigger physiological responses in the brain

Astringency is a dry, puckering, rough, or sandpapery sensation in the mouth caused by plant-derived polyphenols.

31 Oct 2025

Study reveals how TDP-43 causes neuronal overactivity in ALS and FTD

A new Northwestern University study using patient nervous tissue and lab-grown human neurons has uncovered how a key disease protein, TDP-43, drives overactive nerve cells in the neurodegenerative diseases amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD).

31 Oct 2025

Study uncovers neural mechanisms behind memory stabilization

Newly decoded brain circuits make memories more stable as part of learning, according to a new study led by NYU Langone Health researchers.

30 Oct 2025

Study finds more commonalities between CTE and Alzheimer's disease at the genetic level

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) – most often found in athletes playing contact sports – is known to share similarities with Alzheimer's disease (AD), namely the buildup of a protein called tau in the brain.

30 Oct 2025

Oligodendrocyte progenitor cells promote blood vessel growth after stroke

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability, affecting 1 in 4 people during their lifetime. Stroke happens when blood vessels in the brain get clogged or damaged, impairing blood flow and oxygen supply to the brain, which leads to death of neurons and other brain cells.

30 Oct 2025

Low-cost biosensor identifies altered protein levels associated with psychiatric disorders

Brazilian researchers have developed a low-cost, portable biosensor that can quickly identify a protein whose altered levels are associated with psychiatric disorders, such as depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.

30 Oct 2025

Eating habits tied to Parkinson’s risk: sweets and processed meats raise odds, fruit lowers them

In a large Italian case-control study, researchers identified data-driven dietary patterns linked to Parkinson’s disease risk. Diets rich in sweets, red and cured meats were associated with higher odds of PD, while fruit, especially citrus, was protective.

29 Oct 2025

Systematic analysis reveals psilocybin's impact on obsessive-compulsive behaviors

A systematic review published today in Psychedelics by Mr. James Gattuso and colleagues at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health synthesizes clinical and preclinical evidence on psilocybin's effects on obsessive-compulsive behaviors, revealing consistent therapeutic potential across human patients and validated animal models.

29 Oct 2025

Unlocking memory: The role of epigenetics in memory expression

Our experiences leave traces in the brain, stored in small groups of cells called "engrams". Engrams are thought to hold the information of a memory and are reactivated when we remember, which makes them very interesting to research on memory and age- or trauma-related memory loss.

29 Oct 2025

Unlocking the secrets of NMDA receptors for better brain health

As information zings from cell to cell inside the brain, bursts of electricity spur its transmission. At Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL), scientists have turned their attention to the tiny pores that let charged ions enter a cell-and the molecular gatekeepers that help control them.

29 Oct 2025

Fruit flies illuminate the role of Alzheimer's disease risk genes

Scientists have identified hundreds of genes that may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease but the roles these genes play in the brain are poorly understood.

29 Oct 2025

Harnessing bioinformatics to fast-track the discovery of spinal cord injury drug

Spinal cord injury (SCI) remains a major unmet medical challenge, often resulting in permanent paralysis and disability with no effective treatments.

29 Oct 2025

Two analgesic drugs may one day be repurposed as anti-tumor therapies

Peripheral afferent neurons - nerves that send signals from all areas of the body to the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) - are known to infiltrate and grow within malignant bone tumors called osteosarcomas, often accompanied by severe pain.

29 Oct 2025

Unraveling the secrets of neuronal mechanotransduction

How do embryos develop? Why does the cortex of the mammalian brain fold? How do we feel touch at our fingertips? These and other fundamental biological questions remain unsolved.

29 Oct 2025