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Mutations to autism-associated gene cause a cascade of problems in developing mouse brains

Damage to the autism-associated gene Dyrk1a, sets off a cascade of problems in developing mouse brains, resulting in abnormal growth-factor signaling, undergrowth of neurons, smaller-than-average brain size, and, eventually, autism-like behaviors, a new study from Scripps Research, Florida, finds.

8 Apr 2021

Novel mRNA delivery system produces a therapeutic protein that protects neurons from ischemia

A lack of oxygen to brain tissue--known as ischemia--leads to the death of neurons, which results in stroke. Despite considerable research, there are currently no treatments that successfully prevent neuronal death.

8 Apr 2021

Finding ways to reverse a genetic cause of poor stress responses in mice

Everyone faces stress occasionally, whether in school, at work, or during a global pandemic. However, some cannot cope as well as others.

7 Apr 2021

Researchers evaluate new drug for spinal muscular atrophy in a broader spectrum of patients

The rarity of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) means that promising new treatments may be tested in only a limited spectrum of patients before approval. Investigators evaluated a newly approved drug, onasemnogene abeparvovec, in a broader spectrum of patients in order to obtain expanded data on its side effects profile.

6 Apr 2021

Devastating liver disease itching turns out to have a surprising cause

A devastating itching of the skin driven by severe liver disease turns out to have a surprising cause. Its discovery points toward possible new therapies for itching, and shows that the outer layer of the skin is so much more than insulation.

5 Apr 2021

Researchers generate a precise map of basal ganglia connectivity

Thousands of our daily activities, from making coffee to taking a walk to saying hello to a neighbor, are made possible through an ancient collection of brain structures tucked away near the center of the cranium.

5 Apr 2021

Scientists use a novel two-step method to track receptor proteins

The neurons in our nervous system "talk" to each other by sending and receiving chemical messages called neurotransmitters.

3 Apr 2021

New wireless system can restore communication and mobility in people with paralysis

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are an emerging assistive technology, enabling people with paralysis to type on computer screens or manipulate robotic prostheses just by thinking about moving their own bodies.

2 Apr 2021

Disrupted biochemical pathway can lead to the brain changes characteristic of bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder affects millions of Americans, causing dramatic swings in mood and, in some people, additional effects such as memory problems.

1 Apr 2021

Songbird study aims to improve understanding of human speech

The human brain regions responsible for speech and communication keep our world running by allowing us to do things like talk with friends, shout for help in an emergency and present information in meetings.

31 Mar 2021

Study shows how innate valence is encoded

Since the beginning of the pandemic, a loss of smell has emerged as one of the telltale signs of COVID-19. Though most people regain their sense of smell within a matter of weeks, others can find that familiar odors become distorted.

30 Mar 2021

HSV-1 infection induces strain-specific transcriptional differences in infected neurons

Why do some people with cold sores around their lips experience painful lesions, while others have no symptoms at all, yet still spread the virus? A new study conducted at Penn State finds that these differences could be due to variations in the way certain strains of herpes simplex (HSV-1) -- the virus that causes cold sores, as well as genital herpes -- activate gene expression in neurons.

29 Mar 2021

Researcher to use new approach to explore brain proteins and their potential to cure mental diseases

Dr. Hans Maric has received one of the German Research Foundation's highly prestigious Emmy Noether awards, worth around 1.7 million euros.

25 Mar 2021

How do fingerprints enhance our sense of touch?

Dr. Ewa Jarocka speaks to News-Medical about our senses, and how fingerprints can enhance our sense of touch.

24 Mar 2021

Researchers discover a gene mutation linked to schizophrenia

Researchers at The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, in collaboration with Columbia University, have identified a gene mutation that could result in schizophrenia, a chronic brain disorder that affects nearly one percent of the world’s population. T

24 Mar 2021

Artificial neural network for automatically decoding and interpreting cortical signals

Russian scientists have proposed a new algorithm for automatic decoding and interpreting the decoder weights, which can be used both in brain-computer interfaces and in fundamental research. The results of the study were published in the Journal of Neural Engineering.

23 Mar 2021

Researchers use layered double hydroxide to increase neuronal growth in mice with spinal cord injuries

Researchers from the Department of Orthopedics of Tongji Hospital at Tongji University in Shanghai have successfully used a nanobiomaterial called layered double hydroxide (LDH) to inhibit the inflammatory environment surrounding spinal cord injuries in mice, accelerating regeneration of neurons and reconstruction of the neural circuit in the spine.

23 Mar 2021

Virginia Tech neuroscientist uses NIH grant to understand astrocytic processes in the healthy brain

Of all the worlds still to be explored, among the most mysterious may be closest to home. Indeed, it may be right between your ears.

22 Mar 2021

New discovery may prove vital to future research on medical cannabis

Medical cannabis is a subject of much debate. There is still a lot we do not know about cannabis, but researchers from the Department of Neuroscience at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences have made a new discovery that may prove vital to future research into and treatment with medical cannabis.

19 Mar 2021

Study: Dopamine neurons respond to reward-predicting cues

Animals must make predictions about future rewards when making decisions during daily life. Specific reward-related patterns of neuronal activity are known to underlie such decisions.