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Neuron subtypes control level of fear output from amygdala

The eerie music in the movie theater swells; the roller coaster crests and begins its descent; something goes bump in the night. Suddenly, you're scared: your heart thumps, your stomach clenches, your throat tightens, your muscles freeze you in place. But fear doesn't come from your heart, your stomach, your throat, or your muscles. Fear begins in your brain, and it is there specifically in an almond shaped structure called the amygdala that it is controlled, processed, and let out of the gate to kick off the rest of the fear response.

11 Nov 2010

Neurons recycle protein components for neurotransmitter release

Neurons communicate via chemical transmitters which they store in the bubble-like synaptic vesicles and release as required. To be able to react reliably to stimulation, neurons must have a certain number of "acutely releasable" vesicles. With the help of a new method, neuroscientists at the Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine in G-ttingen have now discovered that neurons systematically recycle the protein components necessary for transmitter release and in this way guarantee the reliability of signal transmission in the brain.

11 Nov 2010

New findings suggest serotonin may have anti-diabetic property

New findings by researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center suggest that serotonin a brain chemical known to help regulate emotion, mood and sleep might also have anti-diabetic properties.

11 Nov 2010

Neuronal circuits involved in acquisition and control of behavioural fear responses identified

Fear is an adaptive response, essential to the survival of many species. This behavioural adaptation may be innate but can also be a consequence of conditioning, during the course of which an animal learns that a particular stimulus precedes an unpleasant event. There is a large amount of data indicating that the amygdala, a particular structure in the brain, is strongly involved during the learning of "conditioned" fear. However, until now, the underlying neuronal circuits have remained largely unknown.

11 Nov 2010

Researchers identify molecular cascade that drives sprouting in brain after stroke

A stroke wreaks havoc in the brain, destroying its cells and the connections between them. Depending on its severity and location, a stroke can impact someone's life forever, affecting motor activity, speech, memories, and more.

11 Nov 2010

Exhausted neurons die prematurely and trigger disease symptoms

We all know that living a stressful lifestyle can take its toll, making us age faster and making us more susceptible to the cold going around the office.

11 Nov 2010

Study on zebrafish showcases neural basis of essential survival skill

A tiny, translucent juvenile zebrafish, on the hunt for even littler prey, has offered up a big insight into how a specific circuit of nerve cells functions in the brain. The technique used to illuminate this circuitry, and the fish model itself, provide one of the first insights into the way individual sets of neurons control a specific behavior.

11 Nov 2010

Researchers identify molecular cascade that drives process of reconnection in adult brain after stroke

10 Nov 2010

New findings could help scientists devise optimal therapies for Friedreich's ataxia

Scripps Research Institute scientists have taken a step closer to understanding the cause of Friedreich's ataxia, a debilitating neurological condition that affects tens of thousands of people worldwide, and so far has no cure.

8 Nov 2010

Skin to blood transformation in the lab

In a new study scientists have successfully transformed human skin cells into blood without first being sent through a primordial, stem-cell-like state. The findings were published online in the journal Nature. Earlier work has shown that fibroblast cells from mouse skin, treated with the right cocktail of chemicals, can be transformed into neurons and heart muscle. This is a first with human cells.

7 Nov 2010

Early interference in entorhinal cortex may halt progression of Alzheimer's disease

New research is helping to unravel the events that underlie the "spread" of Alzheimer's disease (AD) throughout the brain. The research, published by Cell Press in the November 4th issue of the journal Neuron, follows disease progression from a vulnerable brain region that is affected early in the disease to interconnected brain regions that are affected in later stages. The findings may contribute to design of therapeutic interventions as targeting the brain region where AD originates would be simpler than targeting multiple brain areas.

4 Nov 2010

Scientists identify events that causes AD progression

Scientists at the Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease (GIND) have offered new information about the events that underlie the "spread" of Alzheimer's disease (AD) throughout the brain.

4 Nov 2010

Study identifies promising therapy to overcome limitation in brain's ability to recover function after stroke

Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability, due to the brain's limited capacity for recovery. Physical rehabilitation is the only current treatment following a stroke, and there are no medications available to help promote neurological recovery.

4 Nov 2010

Scientists discover gene variant that rewires brain's circuitry in neurological disorders

Many gene variants have been linked to autism, but how do these subtle changes alter the brain, and ultimately, behavior. Using a blend of brain imaging and genetic detective work, scientists at UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine and Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior are the first to illustrate how a gene variant tied to autism rewires the brain.

4 Nov 2010

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery effective for morbid obesity

Gastric bypass surgery decreases the preference for sweet-tasting substances in obese rats, a study finding that could help in developing safer treatments for the morbidly obese, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers.

3 Nov 2010

Full-term babies are born with key collection of networks already formed in their brains: Study

Full-term babies are born with a key collection of networks already formed in their brains, according to new research that challenges some previous theories about the brain's activity and how the brain develops. The study is published today in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

2 Nov 2010

We can consciously control neurons inside our head

Every day our brains are flooded by stimulation - sounds, sights and smells. At the same time, we are constantly engaged in an inner dialogue, ruminating about the past, musing about the future. Somehow the brain filters all this input instantly, selecting some things for long- or short-term storage, discarding others and focusing in on what's most important at any given instant.

29 Oct 2010

Mechanism that controls embryonic development could also prevent cancer

Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine have identified a mechanism controlling the function of a protein that binds to DNA during embryonic development and may function to prevent abnormal tumor growth.

29 Oct 2010

International Congress at Spain highlights advances in neuroimmunological disease treatment

The complexity of the immune system and nervous system turn Neuroimmunology into one of the most exciting fields of modern biomedicine. Between October 26th and 30th takes place in Sitges (Barcelona, Spain) the X International Congress of Neuroimmunology of the International Society of Neuroimmunology.

29 Oct 2010

Pfizer announces approval of Lyrica capsules for peripheral neuropathic pain

Pfizer Inc announced that the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare approved Lyrica (pregabalin) capsules for the treatment of peripheral neuropathic pain. This follows the recent approval in Japan of Lyrica for the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia on April 16, 2010. Lyrica is the first medication approved for peripheral neuropathic pain in Japan where it is co-promoted with Eisai Co., Ltd.

29 Oct 2010

Neurons News and Research

Neuron subtypes control level of fear output from amygdala

Neurons recycle protein components for neurotransmitter release

New findings suggest serotonin may have anti-diabetic property

Neuronal circuits involved in acquisition and control of behavioural fear responses identified

Researchers identify molecular cascade that drives sprouting in brain after stroke

Exhausted neurons die prematurely and trigger disease symptoms

Study on zebrafish showcases neural basis of essential survival skill

Researchers identify molecular cascade that drives process of reconnection in adult brain after stroke

New findings could help scientists devise optimal therapies for Friedreich's ataxia

Skin to blood transformation in the lab

Early interference in entorhinal cortex may halt progression of Alzheimer's disease

Scientists identify events that causes AD progression

Study identifies promising therapy to overcome limitation in brain's ability to recover function after stroke

Scientists discover gene variant that rewires brain's circuitry in neurological disorders

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery effective for morbid obesity

Full-term babies are born with key collection of networks already formed in their brains: Study

We can consciously control neurons inside our head

Mechanism that controls embryonic development could also prevent cancer

International Congress at Spain highlights advances in neuroimmunological disease treatment

Pfizer announces approval of Lyrica capsules for peripheral neuropathic pain

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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