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.

Achieving 3D Printing Inside 'Mini-Organs' Growing in Hydrogels

Scientists from the NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre (a collaboration between GOSH and UCL), London, and University of Padova, Italy, have shown for the first time how 3D printing can be achieved inside 'mini-organs' growing in hydrogels -- controlling their shape, activity, and even forcing tissue to grow into 'molds.'

12 Jun 2023

The New Player in ALS—An Ancient, Virus-Like Protein

ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) is a deadly neurodegenerative disease that attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, progressively robbing individuals of their capability to speak, move, eat, and breathe.

8 Jun 2023

Scientists Discover the Mechanisms of Synaptic Pruning in Brain Development

Researchers at Kyushu University have uncovered the mechanisms of a fundamental yet critically under-looked phase in brain development: synaptic pruning.

8 Jun 2023

New Delivery Mechanism Brings Messenger RNA to the Point of Need in Neurons

Brain cells manufacture proteins in every corner, including their long branches. Neurons missing this ability cause severe neurological disorders like disability and epilepsy.

5 Jun 2023

Revealing How Human Brains Encode and Retain Value-Based Information

Researchers from the Center for Cognition and Sociality (CCS) within the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) recently announced the discovery of neurons that allow us to recognize others. The research team discovered that the neurons that deal with the information associated with different individuals are located in the CA1 region of the hippocampus.

2 Jun 2023

Large-Scale Phylogenomic Studies Reveal Mysteries of Primate Evolution

Researchers from Zhejiang University, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Northwest University, and Yunnan University, Aarhus University, and BGI-Research have jointly led a series of significant new studies are published in a special issue of the journal Science, and in papers in Nature Ecology & Evolution and Science Advances.

2 Jun 2023

Scientists Integrate Multiple Therapeutic Approaches to More Effectively Target Brain Metastatic Melanomas

Acting as a team, twin stem cells activate the immune system to suppress tumor growth and prolong survival in representative preclinical models.

1 Jun 2023

High-Resolution, Stable Brain Stimulation by Ultraflexible Nanoelectrodes

Conventional implantable medical devices designed for brain stimulation are often too rigid and bulky for what is one of the body's softest and most delicate tissues.

31 May 2023

Characterizing a Pivotal Time in Mammalian Embryonic Development

Many of life’s secrets are hidden in the initial stages of embryonic development. Unraveling these mysteries can aid in the understanding of early development and birth abnormalities, as well as the creation of innovative regenerative medicine treatments.

31 May 2023

Game-Changing Research Shows Astrocytes as Key Regulators of Alzheimer's Disease Progression

Why do some people develop Alzheimer's disease while others don't? And, even more puzzlingly, why do many individuals whose brains are chock-full of toxic amyloid aggregates-;a telltale sign of Alzheimer's brain pathology-;never go on to develop Alzheimer's-associated dementias?

30 May 2023

Risk-Taking Behavior Increases After Unexpected Wins in Both Humans and Monkeys

How do humans make decisions when the outcomes are uncertain? One possible way would be to calculate the expected value of each option by multiplying each possible outcome amount by its probability and then choosing the option with the highest expected value.

29 May 2023

Study Explores a Brain Region Used by Migratory Birds to Perceive Earth’s Magnetic Field

Earth's magnetic field, generated by the flow of molten iron in the planet's inner core, extends out into space and protects us from cosmic radiation emitted by the Sun.

29 May 2023

Study Reveals Mechanisms Behind Swallowing in Detail

Sensory cells in the vagus nerve can detect and locate food in the esophagus. Their signals help transport the food onward to the stomach. Signal failure leads to swallowing disorders, say a team led by Carmen Birchmeier at the Max Delbrück Center.

29 May 2023

Neuropeptide DH31 Regulates Reproductive Dormancy in a Broad Range of Insects

Dormancy is a survival strategy for many organisms that involves suppressing development and reproduction for a period of time to reduce energy consumption in unfavorable environments.

26 May 2023

Climate Change is Altering Hibernation Patterns of Arctic Ground Squirrels

Arctic ground squirrels are unique among mammals. Their ability to keep from freezing even when body temperatures dip below that mark on the thermometer enables them to survive extreme winter climates.

26 May 2023

Research Uncovers the Biology Underpinning a Rare Genetic Mutation Linked to Painlessness

The biology underpinning a rare genetic mutation that allows its carrier to live virtually pain-free, heal more rapidly and experience reduced anxiety and fear, has been uncovered by new research from UCL.

24 May 2023

Cytoelectric Coupling: Electrical Fields Influence Physical Configuration of Neurons' Sub-Cellular Components

To produce its many functions, including thought, the brain works at many scales. Information such as goals or images is represented by coordinated electrical activity among networks of neurons, while within and around each neuron a mix of proteins and other chemicals physically carries out the mechanics of participating in the network.

23 May 2023

Study Examines the Role of Neuronal Diversity in Cognitive Functions

Neurons in a key area of the brain have different functions based on their exact genetic identity, and understanding this diversity could lead to better understanding of the brain's computational flexibility and memory capacity, potentially informing disease treatment options, Cornell researchers report in a new study.

23 May 2023

Stimulating Cell DNA Repair Processes to Combat the Root Cause of Autism Spectrum Disorders

A new treatment option has been discovered for fragile X syndrome, which is the most common genetic cause of autism spectrum disorders and is defined by a hereditary repetition of certain nucleotides in the DNA sequence of the FMR1 gene. Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) carried out the study, which was published in the journal Cell.

22 May 2023

Revealing the Molecular and Cellular Underpinnings of Summit Disease

Carolyn Elya, a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard, illustrates the molecular and cellular underpinnings of the parasitic fungus Entomophthora muscae’s (E. muscae’s) ability to influence the behavior of fruit flies in new research published in eLife.

22 May 2023

Brain News and Research

Achieving 3D Printing Inside 'Mini-Organs' Growing in Hydrogels

The New Player in ALS—An Ancient, Virus-Like Protein

Scientists Discover the Mechanisms of Synaptic Pruning in Brain Development

New Delivery Mechanism Brings Messenger RNA to the Point of Need in Neurons

Revealing How Human Brains Encode and Retain Value-Based Information

Large-Scale Phylogenomic Studies Reveal Mysteries of Primate Evolution

Scientists Integrate Multiple Therapeutic Approaches to More Effectively Target Brain Metastatic Melanomas

High-Resolution, Stable Brain Stimulation by Ultraflexible Nanoelectrodes

Characterizing a Pivotal Time in Mammalian Embryonic Development

Game-Changing Research Shows Astrocytes as Key Regulators of Alzheimer's Disease Progression

Risk-Taking Behavior Increases After Unexpected Wins in Both Humans and Monkeys

Study Explores a Brain Region Used by Migratory Birds to Perceive Earth’s Magnetic Field

Study Reveals Mechanisms Behind Swallowing in Detail

Neuropeptide DH31 Regulates Reproductive Dormancy in a Broad Range of Insects

Climate Change is Altering Hibernation Patterns of Arctic Ground Squirrels

Research Uncovers the Biology Underpinning a Rare Genetic Mutation Linked to Painlessness

Cytoelectric Coupling: Electrical Fields Influence Physical Configuration of Neurons' Sub-Cellular Components

Study Examines the Role of Neuronal Diversity in Cognitive Functions

Stimulating Cell DNA Repair Processes to Combat the Root Cause of Autism Spectrum Disorders

Revealing the Molecular and Cellular Underpinnings of Summit Disease

Expert Insights: HiMedia Labs on Advancing Nucleic Acid Extraction Across Industries

Quorum Bio: Where Synthetic Biology Meets Sustainable Farming

Diagnostic Biochips: Pioneering Brain Research Tools for the Future

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