Right Protein, Wrong Pattern
Right Protein, Wrong Pattern
Julia Darby’s tagged chimeric proteins told a convincing story. Later, she learned that they distorted some of the details.
Julia Darby’s tagged chimeric proteins told a convincing story. Later, she learned that they distorted some of the details.
neuron
Human Neurons Play the Waiting Game
Shelby Bradford, PhD | Jun 5, 2024 | 4 min read
When it comes to development, an epigenetic clock may be responsible for human neurons’ slower maturation.
How Cold Affects the Brain
Andrew Chapman | Mar 7, 2024 | 4 min read
The brain works hard to keep the body warm in cold weather, but a drop in core temperature can cause troublesome chemical changes.
How Infectious Diseases Affect the Brain
The Scientist | 1 min read
From a loss of taste to dementia, infectious agents cause an array of neurological symptoms.
Microglia Rescue Aggregate-Burdened Neurons
Charlene Lancaster, PhD | Jun 12, 2023 | 4 min read
Researchers discover that neurons trade protein aggregates for microglial-derived mitochondria through tunneling nanotubes.
Mouse Brain Cells Activate When They Witness a Fight
Mariella Bodemeier Loayza Careaga, PhD | Jun 1, 2023 | 2 min read
A subset of hypothalamic neurons mirrors aggression in mice, challenging previous views on the location and functional role of these cells.
Breaking Down Barriers
The Scientist | 1 min read
Looking at the future of neurodegeneration research!
Human Brain Organoids Transplanted Into Rats Respond to Visual Stimuli
Katherine Irving | Feb 3, 2023 | 3 min read
The organoids could one day be used to treat brain injuries in humans.
Mice With a Healthy Gut Microbiome Are More Motivated to Exercise
Katherine Irving | Dec 16, 2022 | 4 min read
A neural pathway between the gut and the brain led to the release of dopamine when the mice ran on a wheel or treadmill, but only in the presence of a robust microbiome.
Ketamine Flips a “Switch” in Mice’s Brain Circuitry: Study
Andy Carstens | Dec 9, 2022 | 6 min read
After injecting moderate doses of the dissociative anesthetic into the animals, previously “awake” brain cells go dark, and those that had been dormant suddenly light up.
Retching Mice Reveal the Brain Circuit Behind Vomiting
Katherine Irving | Nov 2, 2022 | 2 min read
The discovery could one day lead to the development of better antinausea medications.
Researchers Transplant Human Neurons into Rat Brains
Katherine Irving | Oct 12, 2022 | 2 min read
The human cells, engineered to respond to blue light, influenced rat behavior when stimulated.
Infographic: Vangl2 in Muscles Keeps Neuromuscular Junctions Organized
Catherine Offord | Sep 12, 2022 | 1 min read
Genetic knockout experiments reveal a role for the protein in forming and maintaining synapses between motor neurons and muscle fibers in mice.
A Novel Player at the Neuromuscular Junction
Catherine Offord | Sep 12, 2022 | 3 min read
The muscle transmembrane protein Vangl2 helps organize the development and maintenance of connections between muscles and motor neurons, a study concludes.
How Fear Restructures the Mouse Brain
Natalia Mesa, PhD | Aug 15, 2022 | 4 min read
By combining deep learning and electron microscopy, researchers now have a more detailed understanding of how fear changes the brain.
The Cerebellum’s Functions in Cognition, Emotion, and More
Diana Kwon | Aug 15, 2022 | 10+ min read
Once thought of as a mere motor coordination center, the “little brain” is now appreciated as participating in higher neurological processes.
Neurotransmitter Buildup May Be Why Your Brain Feels Tired
Andy Carstens | Aug 11, 2022 | 4 min read
Performing complex cognitive tasks leads to glutamate accumulating in a key region of the brain, a study finds, which could explain why mental labor is so exhausting.
Glioblastoma Cells Imitate Immature Neurons to Invade the Brain
Sophie Fessl, PhD | Aug 5, 2022 | 3 min read
Neuron-like glioblastoma cells are the pioneers of deadly tumors’ spread through the brain, contributing to their devastating invasiveness, a study in mice finds.
Moving Sea Turtle Eggs May Affect Hatchling Development
Margaret Osborne | Jul 28, 2022 | 5 min read
Hatchlings from eggs incubated in a natural nest were larger, exhibited faster neuronal development, and performed better on a motor activity test than those from eggs that were incubated in a hatchery, a study finds.
SARS-CoV-2 Could Use Nanotubes to Infect the Brain
Natalia Mesa, PhD | Jul 21, 2022 | 4 min read
Stressed cells can form hollow actin bridges to neighbors to get help, but the virus may hijack these tiny tunnels for its own purposes, a study suggests.