by Universitaet Mainz After 21 days in vitro, hippocampal neurons of the rat form many synaptic contacts and communicate with each other. Within the study such neuronal networks cultivated on multi-electrode arrays were used to invest the synaptogenic function of α2δ-subunits. Credit: ill. by Artur Bikbaev The ability of the human brain to process and...
by Kerry Benson, Brown University This is a screenshot of a polysomnographic record (30 seconds) representing Rapid Eye Movement Sleep. EEG highlighted by red box. Eye movements highlighted by red line. Credit: MrSandman/ Wikipedia Which sleep stage is most important for learning: REM or non-REM? Does sleep improve learning by enhancing skills while people snooze,...
by Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary In a new study of human ear tissues, hearing scientists have demonstrated that age-related hearing loss, also called presbycusis, is mainly caused by damage to hair cells, the sensory cells in the inner ear that transform sound-induced vibrations into the electrical signals that are relayed to the brain by...
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT SAN ANTONIO GEK-MING SIA, PHD, AND COLLEAGUES IN THE LONG SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT UT HEALTH SAN ANTONIO DISCOVERED A NEW CLASS OF PROTEINS THAT SPARE SYNAPSES FROM ELIMINATION. INCREASING THE NUMBERS… view more CREDIT: UT HEALTH SAN ANTONIO Researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center...
By Rich Haridy July 15, 2020 New research is illustrating the differences in toxic protein accumulations in the brains of older subjects suffering cognitive decline compared to older subjects with unexpectedly strong cognitive abilities. An image compiled from PET scans of these so-called “super-agers” has won Image of the Year from the Society of Nuclear...
by Jennifer Brown, University of Iowa The hormone FGF21 is made in the liver and acts in the brain to suppress sugar intake and the preference for sweet taste. The cartoon illustrates the role FGF21 plays in food choices.Understanding the biological mechanisms that control sugar intake and preference for sweet taste could have important implications...
by Catherine Bridges, Medical University of South Carolina An ibis as “seen” by a machine, 2015. This processed image, which is based on a photograph by Dr. Zachi Evenor, is courtesy of software engineer Guenther Noack, 2015, and is reproduced from Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0). Credit: Dr. Guenther Noack, 2015, reproduced from Wikimedia Commons...
by Brandie Jefferson, Washington University in St. Louis How does the brain detect smells? To find out, you could rely on biological sciences, using high tech imaging methods, or studying anatomical diagrams. You could even get philosophical and ask, “What is smell, anyway?” Or, you could turn to engineering. That’s what ShiNung Ching, an associate...
Stool microbes make a challenging diagnosis easier SCHEMATIC SHOWING HOW THE MICROBIOME SIGNATURE FROM STOOL SAMPLES CAN BE USED TO TEST FOR CIRRHOSIS. view more CREDIT: SALK INSTITUTE LA JOLLA–(July 1, 2020) Chronic liver disease represents a major global public health problem affecting an estimated 844 million people, according to the World Health Organization. It...
by University of Leeds The blood flow in the surface blood vessels of a mouse that was not treated with M-3. Drugs that were developed to treat Alzheimer’s Disease could be re-purposed to prevent—or even reverse—the damage done to the blood vessels in people who are obese or suffer from type 2 diabetes, according to...
