Amsterdam, NL, June 4, 2020 – Growth factors such as glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) were initially thought to be exciting new treatments for Parkinson’s disease (PD), but trials have been disappointing. A panel of prominent leaders in the field convened to discuss whether there is a future for this approach and what any...
Tag: <span>neuroscience</span>
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The science of the penny dropping: Scientists discover memory recall and formation happens at specific times ‘due to the oscillation of brainwaves’
By JOE PINKSTONE FOR MAILONLINE Memory formation and recall is linked to specific brainwaves called theta waves These fire three times a second and only when a person learns successfully They originate from the hippocampus region, deep inside a person’s brain They are again produced when a person remembers one of their memories Recall is...
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First map of proinsulin’s ‘social network’ reveals new drug target for type 2 diabetes
Study reveals previously unknown protein that helps proinsulin fold and opens new avenues for diabetes research SANFORD BURNHAM PREBYS MEDICAL DISCOVERY INSTITUTE Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute have mapped for the first time the vast network of proteins that interact with proinsulin, the protein the body normally processes into insulin. The study,...
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Mechanism behind upper motor degeneration revealed
CHICAGO — Scientists from Northwestern Medicine and the University of Belgrade have pinpointed the electrophysiological mechanism behind upper motor neuron (UMN) disease, unlocking the door to potential treatments for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurodegenerative diseases, such as Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia and Primary Lateral Sclerosis. The study, published in Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience on...
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New imaging tool helps researchers see extent of Alzheimer’s early damage
New imaging technology allows scientists to see the widespread loss of brain synapses in early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, a finding that one day may help aid in drug development, according to a new Yale University study. The research, published May 13 in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, compared the density...
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Why some people are more prone to anxiety
by Society for Neuroscience Gene expression of the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) in the right amygdala and vlPFC correlated with anxiety-like behavior in the human intruder test. Credit: Quah et al., JNeurosci 2020 Anxiety-prone people can blame serotonin cleanup proteins gone awry in their amygdala, according to research in marmosets recently published in JNeurosci. Targeting...
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The pandemic is giving people vivid, unusual dreams. Here’s why
SCIENCECORONAVIRUS COVERAGE The pandemic is giving people vivid, unusual dreams. Here’s why. Researchers explain why withdrawal from our usual environments—due to social distancing—has left dreamers with a dearth of “inspiration.” Deirdre Barrett, a professor of psychology at Harvard University who studies dreams, made this photo illustration of a recent COVID-19 dream she had. ARTWORK BY...
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Blood pressure drug may prevent spasms caused by spinal cord injury
By Nick Lavars One of the serious and enduring side effects of a spinal cord injury can be the gradual development of regular muscle spasms, something that afflicts around 70 percent of sufferers, according to researchers at the University of Copenhagen. These scientists may have uncovered an effective new treatment for this side effect in...
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Watch that smell! Scents can regulate fat storage
Working with the laboratory worm C. elegans, Mutlu and her colleagues conducted a broad screen to investigate whether neurons can actively send signals that, without affecting feeding habits, could alter lipid metabolism. “When we found a connection with the sense of smell, we were very surprised. We expected a link with taste or related to...
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Army develops big data approach to neuroscience
by The Army Research Laboratory A big data approach to neuroscience promises to significantly improve our understanding of the relationship between brain activity and performance. To date, there have been relatively few attempts to use a big-data approach within the emerging field of neurotechnology. In this field, the few attempts at meta-analysis (analysis across multiple...