Brain News and Research

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The human brain is the center of the human nervous system and is a highly complex organ. Enclosed in the cranium, it has the same general structure as the brains of other mammals, but is over three times as large as the brain of a typical mammal with an equivalent body size.

Research Sheds New Light On How Neurons Transmit Strains and Stresses

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. Yet, scientists know they all rely on a common principle: the conversion of a physical stimulus into a biochemical signal.

30 Oct 2025

Fruit Fly Study Reveals New Details on 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.

30 Oct 2025

Unlocking the Secrets of Neural Ion Channels

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.

30 Oct 2025

Reversible Epigenetic Switches Influence Memory Formation

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.

30 Oct 2025

Study Reveals How Blood Vessels Drive Neuron Movement in the Brain

Researchers have discovered how newly created neurons depend on blood flow in the adult brain to travel from their site of origin to their final location.

29 Oct 2025

Retinal Implant Restores Sight for Patients With Macular Degeneration

A wireless photovoltaic implant shows promise in restoring central vision for patients with macular degeneration, enhancing visual acuity and independence.

29 Oct 2025

Aptamer Technology Offers Breakthrough in Identifying Zombie Cells

When it comes to treating disease, one promising avenue is addressing the presence of senescent cells.

28 Oct 2025

Mutation in NAMPT Gene Found to Cause Rare Neurological Disease

An international research team, led by Shinghua Ding at the University of Missouri, has identified a previously unknown genetic disease that affects movement and muscle control.

28 Oct 2025

Understanding Interplay of Physiological Processes as the Brain Shifts from Wakefulness to Sleep

Findings from Mass General Brigham investigators highlight the intricate interplay of diverse physiological processes as the brain shifts from wakefulness to sleep.

27 Oct 2025

Disrupted Circadian Rhythms Alter Gene Activity in Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer's disease is notorious for scrambling patients' daily rhythms. Restless nights with little sleep and increased napping during the day are early indicators of disease onset, while sundowning, or confusion later in the day, is typical for later stages of the disease.

24 Oct 2025

Hungry Female Mice Turn Aggressive Toward Pups Only in Specific Hormonal States

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have found that hunger can make virgin female mice aggressive towards pups, but only in certain hormonal states.

23 Oct 2025

Racing Ahead: How Humans Developed Large Brains and Flat Faces

Humans evolved large brains and flat faces at a surprisingly rapid pace compared to other apes, likely reflecting the evolutionary advantages of these traits, finds a new analysis of ape skulls by UCL researchers.

22 Oct 2025

Serotonin-Producing Gut Microbes May Hold the Key to Treating IBS

Research from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, clarifies the complex interaction between gut bacteria and IBS.

21 Oct 2025

Leptin-Sensitive Brain Circuit Helps Overcome Anxiety to Perform Essential Behaviors

How do mammals manage to eat in situations that cause anxiety, step into exposed spaces, or slow down when anxiety drives them to keep moving? A new study pinpoints a leptin-sensitive circuit in the lateral hypothalamus that helps to overcome anxiety to perform essential behaviors such as exploring, feeding, and limiting maladaptive hyperactivity.

21 Oct 2025

The Biological Tagging of Astrocytes Enhances Memory Recall

Why are we able to recall only some of our past experiences? A new study led by Jun Nagai at the RIKEN Center for Brain Science in Japan has an answer.

16 Oct 2025

Biological Effects of Childhood Abuse Uncovered Through Epigenome-Wide Analysis

Child maltreatment, which includes abuse and neglect, is one of the most serious public health concerns worldwide.

16 Oct 2025

Cellular Switches Direct Supplies During Memory Formation

When we form a memory, brain cells need to deliver supplies to strengthen specific neural connections.

15 Oct 2025

New Insights into rRNA Motifs and Nervous System Genes

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is a type of molecule and a key building block of the ribosome, the cell's protein-making machinery. rRNA accounts for much of the RNA in a cell, and it's crucial for life.

15 Oct 2025

Discovery Reveals How Microbes Evolve Rapidly Inside the Human Gut

Everywhere you go, you carry a population of microbes in your gastrointestinal tract that outnumber the human cells making up your body.

14 Oct 2025

Rat Study Reveals Orbitofrontal Cortex Cells That Power Learning Under Uncertainty

Newly identified brain cells evolved along the theme, "Life is uncertain; Eat dessert first." The neurons, located in the front part of the brain, are most active when the outcome of a decision is uncertain, suggesting that they help with decision making, along with learning and mental flexibility in general.

10 Oct 2025