Neurons News and Research

RSS

Researchers identify certain neurons responsible for behavioral decisions in rats

A new paper published by OIST's Neurobiology Research Unit identifies some of the neurons responsible for behavioral decisions in rats. Using a technique that employs light to control nerve cell activity, researchers in Professor Jeff Wickens' Unit inactivated a region of the brain and showed that it caused the rats to behave more flexibly while trying to get a reward.

15 May 2014

Suppressing hyperactivity of calcium channels alleviates familial Alzheimer's disease

In 2008, researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania showed that mutations in two proteins associated with familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD) disrupt the flow of calcium ions within neurons.

15 May 2014

Researchers show how cone snails venom inhibits neuronal calcium channels to reduce neuropathic pain

The venom from marine cone snails, used to immobilize prey, contains numerous peptides called conotoxins, some of which can act as painkillers in mammals. A recent study in The Journal of General Physiology provides new insight into the mechanisms by which one conotoxin, Vc1.1, inhibits pain.

15 May 2014

Anti-depressants could slow onset of Alzheimer's disease

A University of Pennsylvania researcher has discovered that the common selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) citalopram arrested the growth of amyloid beta, a peptide in the brain that clusters in plaques that are thought to trigger the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

15 May 2014

Salk scientists explore earliest detectable changes in the brain that lead to schizophrenia

Using new stem cell technology, scientists at the Salk Institute have shown that neurons generated from the skin cells of people with schizophrenia behave strangely in early developmental stages, providing a hint as to ways to detect and potentially treat the disease early.

14 May 2014

Research: Stimulation of certain population of neurons within brain can alter learning process

Stimulation of a certain population of neurons within the brain can alter the learning process, according to a team of neuroscientists and neurosurgeons at the University of Pennsylvania.

14 May 2014

Scientists discover novel protein fragments that may protect against Alzheimer's disease

The devastating loss of memory and consciousness in Alzheimer's disease is caused by plaque accumulations and tangles in neurons, which kill brain cells.

14 May 2014

Research may offer unique pathway for targeting new therapeutics for addiction treatment

A research team from the Friedman Brain Institute of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai has published evidence that shows that subtle changes of inhibitory signaling in the reward pathway can change how animals respond to drugs such as cocaine.

13 May 2014

Preconditioning crush increases survival rate of motor neurons after spinal root avulsion

A previous study showed that, 1 week after avulsion of the spinal nerve root, small motor neurons (< 500 μm2) negative for 27 kDa heat shock protein (HSP27) immunoreactivity died and only large (> 500 μm2) HSP27-positive motor neurons survived in the spinal cord ventral horn.

13 May 2014

Shift switches pain sensor from cold-sensitive to hot-sensitive

Ice cream lovers and hot tea drinkers with sensitive teeth could one day have a reason to celebrate a new finding from Duke University researchers. The scientists have found a very small change in a single protein that turns a cold-sensitive receptor into one that senses heat.

9 May 2014

McGill research finds unexpected link between cell suicide and longevity

What is the secret to aging more slowly and living longer? Not antioxidants, apparently.

9 May 2014

Chinese herbal formula protects against hippocampal neurons death via non-classical estrogen pathway

Amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles are the main pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease, as well as the loss of neurons and synapses. recent reports have shown that estrogen exerts neuroprotective effects.

9 May 2014

Children with autism experience deficits in immune cell that protects against infection

Children with autism experience deficits in a type of immune cell that protects the body from infection. Called granulocytes, the cells exhibit one-third the capacity to fight infection and protect the body from invasion compared with the same cells in children who are developing normally.

9 May 2014

Mice study shows specific energy source responsible for performing complex cognitive functions

New research suggests that certain types of brain cells may be "picky eaters," seeming to prefer one specific energy source over others.

9 May 2014

Cellectricon, Neusentis to host webinar on phenotypic screening approaches in pain research

Cellectricon, a leading provider of advanced cell-based screening technologies and services, will co-host a webinar with Neusentis, describing the use of native cells to develop an assay with improved physiological relevance over traditional approaches in pain drug discovery research.

From Cellectricon 8 May 2014

Finding has implications for understanding cognitive decline in degenerative diseases

New research suggests that certain types of brain cells may be "picky eaters," seeming to prefer one specific energy source over others. The finding has implications for understanding the cognitive decline seen in aging and degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and multiple sclerosis.

8 May 2014

Form of baclofen works better at treating narcolepsy

Neuroscientists at SRI International have found that a form of baclofen, a drug used to treat muscle spasticity, works better at treating narcolepsy than the best drug currently available when tested in mice.

8 May 2014

Two young neuroscientists win CAN Young Investigator Awards for 2014

The Canadian Association for Neuroscience is proud to announce that Dr. Stephanie Borgland, from the Hotchkiss Brain Institute at University of Calgary, and Dr. Brian Chen, from the Centre for Research in Neuroscience at McGill University, are both winners of CAN Young Investigator Awards for 2014.

8 May 2014

Psilocybin in magic mushroom inhibits negative emotions in brain, shows study

Emotions like fear, anger, sadness, and joy enable people to adjust to their environment and react flexibly to stress and strain and are vital for cognitive processes, physiological reactions, and social behaviour.

8 May 2014

Neuron-to-neuron communication plays essential role in development of synapses

A study has shown that a long-overlooked form of neuron-to-neuron communication called miniature neurotransmission plays an essential role in the development of synapses, the regions where nerve impulses are transmitted and received.

8 May 2014

Neurons News and Research

Researchers identify certain neurons responsible for behavioral decisions in rats

Suppressing hyperactivity of calcium channels alleviates familial Alzheimer's disease

Researchers show how cone snails venom inhibits neuronal calcium channels to reduce neuropathic pain

Anti-depressants could slow onset of Alzheimer's disease

Salk scientists explore earliest detectable changes in the brain that lead to schizophrenia

Research: Stimulation of certain population of neurons within brain can alter learning process

Scientists discover novel protein fragments that may protect against Alzheimer's disease

Research may offer unique pathway for targeting new therapeutics for addiction treatment

Preconditioning crush increases survival rate of motor neurons after spinal root avulsion

Shift switches pain sensor from cold-sensitive to hot-sensitive

McGill research finds unexpected link between cell suicide and longevity

Chinese herbal formula protects against hippocampal neurons death via non-classical estrogen pathway

Children with autism experience deficits in immune cell that protects against infection

Mice study shows specific energy source responsible for performing complex cognitive functions

Cellectricon, Neusentis to host webinar on phenotypic screening approaches in pain research

Finding has implications for understanding cognitive decline in degenerative diseases

Form of baclofen works better at treating narcolepsy

Two young neuroscientists win CAN Young Investigator Awards for 2014

Psilocybin in magic mushroom inhibits negative emotions in brain, shows study

Neuron-to-neuron communication plays essential role in development of synapses

Neuroscience - Third Edition eBook

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Latest News