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.

Unraveling the Genetic Blueprint of the Deep Brain

Researchers have discovered 254 genetic variations that influence important “deep brain” structures, such as those that govern memory, motor skills, addictive behaviors, and more, in one of the biggest-ever investigations of DNA and brain volume.

22 Oct 2024

Advancements in Understanding Intestinal Hormone Secretion

A multi-institutional group of researchers led by the Hubrecht Institute and Roche's Institute of Human Biology has developed strategies to identify regulators of intestinal hormone secretion.

21 Oct 2024

Study Uncovers How MANF Protein Enhances Cellular Homeostasis and Longevity

McMaster University researchers have discovered a previously unknown cell-protecting function of a protein, which could open new avenues for treating age-related diseases and lead to healthier aging overall.

21 Oct 2024

A Novel Method for Improving Spatial Resolution in Transcriptomic Analysis

Existing spatial transcriptomics methods frequently lack the precision required to examine single cells in tissue samples, hindering their ability to reveal intricate biological information.

21 Oct 2024

A Novel Regulator of RNA Processing in Alzheimer's Disease

A research team from the University of Barcelona's Institute of Neurosciences described a novel molecular mechanism that modifies the process of protein synthesis and impacts RNA processing in Alzheimer's patients' brains.

21 Oct 2024

Human Organoids Provide Insights Into Gut Hormone Release

A collaborative team of researchers from the Hubrecht Institute and Roche’s Institute of Human Biology has formulated strategies to identify the regulators involved in intestinal hormone secretion.

18 Oct 2024

MANF Protein Found to Boost Cellular Clean-Up and Efficiency

Researchers at McMaster University have uncovered a previously unrecognized function of a protein that helps protect cells, potentially leading to new treatments for age-related conditions and promoting healthier aging.

18 Oct 2024

Magnetic Control of Brain Cells: A Step Forward in Neuromodulation

The introduction of magnetogenetics provides a noninvasive technique to modulate brain circuits, paving the way for innovative therapies in neuromodulation.

18 Oct 2024

Fly Hormone Discovery Sheds Light on Lifespan Regulation and Aging

Researchers at Brown University have found that a neuropeptide hormone produced in the gut of flies influences their lifespan.

17 Oct 2024

Next-Generation Sequencer Enhances Genetic Research at UT Arlington

The North Texas Genome Center (NTGC) at UT Arlington is getting an upgrade in the form of a next-generation genetic sequencer that will allow researchers to study genetic links between health and disease at a large scale.

16 Oct 2024

Mutant Neurons Show Accelerated Development in Mouse Brain

The mechanisms behind intellectual disabilities and autism remain largely unknown. However, researchers from the labs of Prof. Pierre Vanderhaeghen and Prof. Vincent Bonin at the VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research and NERF have identified that mutations in the SYNGAP1 gene interfere with the extended development of human neurons, a process believed to be critical for normal cognitive function.

15 Oct 2024

A New Technique Reveals the Behavior of OPCs in the Brain

Imagine yourself sometime in the far future aboard a routine rocket to Mars. Someone just spilled their drink. Without gravity, it collects in floating blobs that ripple right before your eyes. Now freeze.

14 Oct 2024

New Insights Into Early Brain Development and Mental Health

An unparalleled glimpse at how gene regulation changes during human brain development has been provided by a study led by UCLA, which demonstrates the crucial role played by the 3D structure of chromatin, which is made up of proteins and DNA.

10 Oct 2024

Scientists Map the Entire Brain of a Fruit Fly

UC Santa Barbara neuroscientists have reconstructed the entire anterior visual pathway of a fruit fly, a complex series of connections between the insect's eyes and the navigation center of its brain. With the help of artificial intelligence and manual proofreading, systems biologist Sung Soo Kim's research group and collaborators worked out the relationships between more than 3,000 neurons with unprecedented detail.

9 Oct 2024

Harnessing Bioluminescence for Noninvasive Brain Activation

Researchers at the University of Rochester have demonstrated a noninvasive technique called bioluminescent optogenetics, or BL-OG, that uses light to stimulate brain neurons.

4 Oct 2024

Scientists Successfully Map the Entire Fruit Fly Brain

A team of scientists supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)'s The BRAIN Initiative, including Davi Bock, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Neurological Sciences at UVM's Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine, recently made a substantial advancement in neurobiological research by successfully mapping the entire brain of Drosophila melanogaster, more commonly known as the fruit fly.

3 Oct 2024

A New Understanding of Chromatin Regulation and its Implications

Human survival is dependent upon an extraordinarily intricate dance that takes place inside every cell and every nucleus. DNA is continually being wrapped and unwrapped by proteins, and even small mistakes might result in cancer.

3 Oct 2024

New Tool START Enables Precision Mapping of Neuronal Connectivity

Scientists at the Salk Institute are unveiling a new brain-mapping neurotechnology called Single Transcriptome Assisted Rabies Tracing (START). The cutting-edge tool combines two advanced technologies-;monosynaptic rabies virus tracing and single-cell transcriptomics-;to map the brain's intricate neuronal connections with unparalleled precision.

1 Oct 2024

Bipolar Disorder and Epilepsy Share Genetic Roots

A team of researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences has uncovered compelling evidence of a genetic link between bipolar disorder type I (BD-I) and epilepsy, potentially revolutionizing our understanding of these complex neuropsychiatric conditions.

1 Oct 2024

Two Alzheimer’s Genetic Risk Factors Trigger Harmful Inflammation in Females

Weill Cornell Medicine investigators have found that two genetic variants that confer high risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) together trigger a harmful inflammatory response in the brain's immune cells, particularly in females, in a preclinical model.

1 Oct 2024