ScienceDaily: Nervous System News

Molecular roots of cocaine addiction in brain uncovered: Promising new anti-addiction drug revealed

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:30:30 EDT

Researchers have unraveled the molecular foundations of cocaine’s effects on the brain, and identified a compound that blocks cravings for the drug in cocaine-addicted mice. The compound, already proven safe for humans, is undergoing further animal testing in preparation for possible clinical trials in cocaine addicts, the researchers say.

Reducing caloric intake delays nerve cell loss

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:39:39 EDT

Activating an enzyme known to play a role in the anti-aging benefits of calorie restriction delays the loss of brain cells and preserves cognitive function in mice, according to a new study. The findings could one day guide researchers to discover drug alternatives that slow the progress of age-associated impairments in the brain.

Common food supplement fights degenerative brain disorders, study suggests

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:15:15 EDT

Widely available in pharmacies and health stores, phosphatidylserine is a natural food supplement produced from beef, oysters, and soy. Now scientists have discovered that the supplement improves the functioning of genes involved in degenerative brain disorders, including Parkinson's disease and familial dysautonomia.

Clouds in the head: New model of brain's thought processes

Tue, 21 May 2013 10:54:54 EDT

A new model of the brain's thought processes explains the apparently chaotic activity patterns of individual neurons. They do not correspond to a simple stimulus/response linkage, but arise from the networking of different neural circuits.

Premature birth interrupts vital brain development processes leading to reduced cognitive abilities in infants

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:42:42 EDT

Researchers have for the first time used a novel form of MRI to identify crucial developmental processes in the brain that are vulnerable to the effects of premature birth. This new study shows that disruption of these specific processes can have an impact on cognitive function.

New approach to improving treatment for MS and other conditions

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:24:24 EDT

Working with lab mice models of multiple sclerosis (MS), scientists have detected a novel molecular target for the design of drugs that could be safer and more effective than current FDA-approved medications against MS.

Fishing for memories: How long-term memories are processed to guide behavior

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:39:39 EDT

In our interaction with our environment we constantly refer to past experiences stored as memories to guide behavioral decisions. But how memories are formed, stored and then retrieved to assist decision-making remains a mystery. By observing whole-brain activity in live zebrafish, researchers have visualized for the first time how information stored as long-term memory in the cerebral cortex is processed to guide behavioral choices.

Faulty energy production in brain cells leads to disorders ranging from Parkinson's to intellectual disability

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:38:38 EDT

Neuroscientists have shown for the first time that dysfunctional mitochondria in brain cells can lead to learning disabilities. The link between dysfunctional mitochondria and Parkinson's disease is known, but this new research shows that it is also present in other brain disorders.

Brain rewires itself after damage or injury, life scientists discover

Wed, 15 May 2013 16:50:50 EDT

The brain forms complex new circuits after damage to compensate for lost function, often far from the damaged region, life scientists report. The new study identified the exact regions of the brain that take over when the brain's hippocampus is damaged, and is the first demonstration of such neural circuit plasticity.

'Good vibrations:' Brain ultrasound improves mood

Wed, 15 May 2013 09:48:48 EDT

Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques aimed at mental and neurological conditions include transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for depression, and transcranial direct current (electrical) stimulation (tDCS), have been shown to improve memory. Transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) has also shown promise.

Fish oil may stall effects of junk food on brain

Tue, 14 May 2013 10:14:14 EDT

Data from more than 180 research papers suggests fish oils could minimize the effects that junk food can have on the brain, a review has shown.

Serotonin mediates exercise-induced generation of new neurons

Mon, 13 May 2013 11:09:09 EDT

Mice that exercise in running wheels exhibit increased neurogenesis in the brain. Crucial to this process is serotonin signaling. Surprisingly, mice lacking brain serotonin due to a genetic mutation exhibited normal baseline neurogenesis. However, in these serotonin-deficient mice, activity-induced proliferation was impaired, and wheel running did not induce increased generation of new neurons.

Dynamic behavior of progenitor cells in brain discovered

Thu, 09 May 2013 14:21:21 EDT

By monitoring the behavior of a class of cells in the brains of living mice, neuroscientists have discovered that these cells remain highly dynamic in the adult brain, where they transform into cells that insulate nerve fibers and help form scars that aid in tissue repair.

Advance in tuberous sclerosis brain science

Thu, 09 May 2013 12:34:34 EDT

By manipulating the timing of disease-causing mutations in the brains of developing mice, researchers have found that early genetic deletions in the thalamus may play an important role in course and severity of the developmental disease tuberous sclerosis complex.

Missing link in signals contributes to neurodegeneration

Wed, 08 May 2013 15:13:13 EDT

In many neurodegenerative diseases the neurons of the brain are over-stimulated and this leads to their destruction. After many failed attempts and much scepticism this process was finally shown last year to be a possible basis for treatment in some patients with stroke. But very few targets for drugs to block this process are known.

Brain anatomy of dyslexia is not the same in men and women, boys and girls

Wed, 08 May 2013 13:18:18 EDT

Using MRI, neuroscientists have found significant differences in brain anatomy when comparing men and women with dyslexia to their non-dyslexic control groups. Their study is the first to directly compare brain anatomy of females with and without dyslexia.

Hit a 90 mph baseball? Scientists pinpoint how we see it coming

Wed, 08 May 2013 12:30:30 EDT

How does San Francisco Giants slugger Pablo Sandoval swat a 95 mph fastball, or tennis icon Venus Williams see the oncoming ball, let alone return her sister Serena's 120 mph serves? For the first time, vision scientists have pinpointed how the brain tracks fast-moving objects.

Weeks after stroke, some patients develop chronic, debilitating pain

Wed, 08 May 2013 12:28:28 EDT

Nearly 1 in 10 stroke patients suffer chronic and debilitating pain, typically described as sharp, stabbing or burning. It is treatable with medications and magnetic or electrical stimulation of the brain. But physicians often fail to correctly diagnose the condition.

Theta brainwaves reflect ability to beat built-in bias

Tue, 07 May 2013 19:56:56 EDT

Many animals, including humans, harbor ingrained biases to actively obtain rewards and to remain inactive to avoid punishment. Sometimes, however those biases can steer us wrong. A new study finds that theta brainwave activity in the prefrontal cortex predicts how well people can overcome these biases when they are unwanted.

Turning Alzheimer's fuzzy signals into high definition

Tue, 07 May 2013 19:54:54 EDT

Scientists have discovered that cholinesterase inhibitors allow signals to enter the brain with less background noise. And the drugs work in the sensory cortices, not the more sophisticated processing regions.

Nerve stimulation for severe depression changes brain function

Tue, 07 May 2013 13:44:44 EDT

For nearly a decade, doctors have used implanted electronic stimulators to treat severe depression in people who don't respond to standard antidepressant treatments. Now, preliminary brain scan studies are revealing that vagus nerve stimulation brings about changes in brain metabolism weeks or even months before patients begin to feel better.

Commands from the matrix: Cellular environment controls formation and activity of neuronal connections

Mon, 06 May 2013 10:29:29 EDT

Environment moulds behavior -- and not just that of people in society, but also at the microscopic level. This is because, for their function, neurons are dependent on the cell environment, the so-termed extracellular matrix. Researchers have found evidence that this complex network of molecules controls the formation and activity of the neuronal connections.

Epilepsy cured in mice using brain cells

Fri, 03 May 2013 23:03:03 EDT

Epilepsy that does not respond to drugs can be halted in adult mice by transplanting a specific type of cell into the brain, researchers have discovered, raising hope that a similar treatment might work in severe forms of human epilepsy.

Human brain cells developed in lab, grow in mice

Fri, 03 May 2013 23:03:03 EDT

A key type of human brain cell developed in the laboratory grows seamlessly when transplanted into the brains of mice, researchers have discovered, raising hope that these cells might one day be used to treat people with Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, and possibly even Alzheimer’s disease, as well as and complications of spinal cord injury such as chronic pain and spasticity.

Individual brain cells track where we are and how we move

Fri, 03 May 2013 09:49:49 EDT

Researchers have gained new insights into how our brains form maps of our environment. They found that special cells can note either a fixed location, or the distance a mammal travels, depending on the cues it gets from the environment.

Botox used to find new wrinkle in brain communication

Thu, 02 May 2013 13:19:19 EDT

Researchers have used the popular anti-wrinkle agent Botox to discover a new and important role for a group of molecules that nerve cells use to quickly send messages. This novel role for the molecules, called SNARES, may be a missing piece that scientists have been searching for to fully understand how brain cells communicate under normal and disease conditions.

Adult cells transformed into early-stage nerve cells, bypassing the pluripotent stem cell stage

Thu, 02 May 2013 13:17:17 EDT

Scientists have converted skin cells from people and monkeys into a cell that can form a wide variety of nervous-system cells — without passing through the do-it-all stage called the induced pluripotent stem cell, or iPSC.

How brain's auditory center transmits information for decisions, actions

Wed, 01 May 2013 14:51:51 EDT

When a pedestrian hears the screech of a car's brakes, she has to decide whether, and if so, how, to move in response. Is the action taking place blocks away, or 20 feet to the left? One of the primal mechanisms we depend on -- acting on the basis of information gathered by our sense of hearing -- is yielding its secrets. Surprising results fill in a key piece of the puzzle about how mammals act on the basis of sound cues.

Neon exposes hidden ALS cells

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:43:43 EDT

A small group of neurons in the cortex play a big role in ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), a fatal disease. But the neurons have been difficult to study because they look so similar to others in the cortex. New research has isolated the brain's motor neurons that die in ALS and dressed them in a green fluorescent jacket. Now scientists can easily find them to study why they die and how to save them.

Nerve transfer can help repair brachial plexus injuries, help restore elbow functions

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:20:20 EDT

Results highlight the effective use of nerve transfer in patients suffering from brachial plexus injuries for reconstruction of elbow flexion to help improve their quality of life.

Bone marrow stromal cell treatment improves functional outcome, helps repair biostructural damage from traumatic brain injury

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:11:11 EDT

Results show positive impact that bone marrow stromal cell therapy can have for those suffering from certain types of traumatic brain injuries.

Connection between inflammatory stimulus and Parkinson's disease examined

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 17:59:59 EDT

The precise cause(s) of Parkinson’s Disease is unknown, but there is consensus that an inflammatory event or episode is involved in the initiation of neurodegeneration. A new study has brought the understanding of inflammation’s role a step further.

New methods to explore astrocyte effects on brain function

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:49:49 EDT

A new study presents new methods to evaluate how astrocytes contribute to brain function, paving the way for future exploration of these important brain cells at unprecedented levels of detail.

Do you obsess over your appearance? Your brain might be wired abnormally

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:42:42 EDT

New research has discovered that people with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) have abnormal connections throughout their brain. BDD is a disabling but often-misunderstood psychiatric condition in which individuals perceive that they're disfigured and ugly, even though they look normal to others.

Key shift in brain that creates drive to overeat identified

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:42:42 EDT

Neuroscientists have identified a cellular change in the brain that accompanies obesity. The findings could explain the body's tendency to maintain undesirable weight levels, rather than an ideal weight, and identify possible targets for pharmacological efforts to address obesity. The study identifies a mechanism for the body's ongoing tendency to return to the heavier weight.

Sniffing out schizophrenia

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:05:05 EDT

Scientists have developed an innovative method for diagnosing schizophrenia by collecting neural tissues from the nose. The finding could lead to early detection of the disease, giving rise to vastly improved treatment overall.

Promising results from first U.S. clinical trial for stem cell-based treatment of ALS

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 12:55:55 EDT

Researchers who completed the first American clinical trial involving stem cell-based treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) were encouraged by the trial study's results, noting that this delivery approach could be a helpful therapeutic approach for other traumatic spine-related problems.

How Parkinson's disease protein acts like a virus

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 21:37:37 EDT

A protein known to be a key player in the development of Parkinson’s disease is able to enter and harm cells in the same way that viruses do, according to a new study.

Novel approach to find RNAs involved in long-term memory storage

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 16:02:02 EDT

Scientists have developed a novel strategy for isolating and characterizing a substantial number of RNAs transported from the cell-body of neuron (nerve cell) to the synapse, the small gap separating neurons that enables cell to cell communication.

Suppressing protein may stem Alzheimer's disease process

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:26:26 EDT

Scientists have discovered a potential strategy for developing treatments to stem the disease process in Alzheimer's disease. It's based on unclogging removal of toxic debris that accumulates in patients' brains, by blocking activity of a little-known regulator protein called CD33. Too much CD33 activity may promote late-onset Alzheimer's by preventing support cells from clearing out toxic plaques. Future medications that impede CD33 activity might help prevent or treat the disorder.

Melatonin delays ALS symptom onset and death in mice

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:16:16 EDT

Melatonin injections delayed symptom onset and reduced mortality in a mouse model of the neurodegenerative condition amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease, according to a new study.

After brain injury, new astrocytes play unexpected role in healing

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:27:27 EDT

The production of a certain kind of brain cell that had been considered an impediment to healing may actually be needed to staunch bleeding and promote repair after a stroke or head trauma, researchers report.

New research findings on the brain's guardian cells

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 08:10:10 EDT

Researchers have now succeeded in identifying a deviation in the structure of the microglia cells, which makes it possible to visualise them and study their behaviour. By inserting a luminescent protein controlled by a microscopic molecule, microRNA-9, the researchers can now distinguish the microglia and monitor their function over time in the brains of rats and mice.

New light shed on early stage Alzheimer's disease

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:48:48 EDT

The disrupted metabolism of sugar, fat and calcium is part of the process that causes the death of neurons in Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers have now shown, for the first time, how important parts of the nerve cell that are involved in the cell’s energy metabolism operate in the early stages of the disease. These somewhat surprising results shed new light on how neuronal metabolism relates to the development of the disease.

A noninvasive avenue for Parkinson's disease gene therapy

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 15:38:38 EDT

Researchers have developed a gene therapy approach that may one day stop Parkinson's disease in it tracks, preventing disease progression and reversing its symptoms. The novelty of the approach lies in the nasal route of administration and nanoparticles containing a gene capable of rescuing dying neurons in the brain.

Stem cell transplant restores memory, learning in mice

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 15:16:16 EDT

For the first time, human embryonic stem cells have been transformed into nerve cells that helped mice regain the ability to learn and remember.

Big boost in drug discovery: New use for stem cells identifies a promising way to target ALS

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:49:49 EDT

Using a new stem-cell based drug screening technology with the potential to reinvent and greatly reduce the cost of the way new pharmaceuticals are developed, researchers have found a compound more effective in protecting the neurons killed in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis -- Lou Gehrig's disease -- than two drugs that failed in human clinical trials after hundreds of millions of dollars had been invested in them.

High levels of glutamate in brain may kick-start schizophrenia: Implications for early diagnosis and new treatment strategies

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:46:46 EDT

An excess of the brain neurotransmitter glutamate may cause a transition to psychosis in people who are at risk for schizophrenia. The findings suggest a potential diagnostic tool for identifying those at risk for schizophrenia and a possible glutamate-limiting treatment strategy to prevent or slow progression of schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders.

Brain's 'slow waves': Scientists probe source of pulsing signal in sleeping brain

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 10:01:01 EDT

New findings clarify where and how the brain's "slow waves" originate. These rhythmic signal pulses, which sweep through the brain during deep sleep, are assumed to play a role in important processes such as consolidation of memory. For the first time, researchers have shown conclusively that slow waves start in the cerebral cortex. They also found that such a wave can be set in motion by a local cluster of just 50 to 100 neurons.

Detecting autism from brain activity

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 18:55:55 EDT

Neuroscientists have developed an efficient and reliable method of analyzing brain activity to detect autism in children, researchers report in a new study.

Going places: Rat brain 'GPS' maps routes to rewards

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 13:18:18 EDT

Studying rats' ability to navigate familiar territory, scientists found that the hippocampus uses remembered spatial information to imagine routes the rats then follow. Their discovery has implications for understanding why hippocampal damage disrupts specific types of memory and learning in people with Alzheimer's disease and age-related cognitive decline. And because these mental trajectories guide the rats' behavior, the research model may be useful in future studies on higher-level tasks, such as decision-making.

Acute stress primes brain for better cognitive and mental performance

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 20:45:45 EDT

Chronic stress is known to cause major health problems, yet acute stress can be good for you. A new study shows why. Stress generates new nerve cells in the brain that, two weeks later, help you learn better. Thus, unlike chronic stress, acute stress primes the brain for improved cognitive and mental performance.

Aerobic exercise may protect cognitive abilities of heavy drinkers

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 16:18:18 EDT

Aerobic exercise may help prevent and perhaps even reverse some of the brain damage associated with heavy alcohol consumption, according to a new study.

Stimulating the brain blunts cigarette craving

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 08:51:51 EDT

Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable deaths globally. Unfortunately smoking cessation is difficult, with more than 90% of attempts to quit resulting in relapse.

Scientists learn what makes nerve cells so strong

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 17:20:20 EDT

How do nerve cells -- which can each be up to three feet long in humans -- keep from rupturing or falling apart? Axons, the long, cable-like projections on neurons, are made stronger by a unique modification of the common molecular building block of the cell skeleton. The finding may help guide the search for treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.

Doctors freeze nerves to knock chronic pain out cold

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 17:20:20 EDT

For the millions of Americans who rely on pain medications for neuralgia, a condition where nerves damaged by surgery, traumatic injury, or diseases such as diabetes cause chronic pain, an emerging non-pharmacological treatment may offer relief. By placing a tiny ball of ice on damaged nerves by way of a minimally invasive interventional radiology treatment called cryoneurolysis, doctors were able to safely short circuit chronic pain caused by nerve damage.

Skin cells turned directly into the cells that insulate neurons

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:48:48 EDT

Researchers have succeeded in transforming skin cells directly into oligodendrocyte precursor cells, the cells that wrap nerve cells in the insulating myelin sheaths that help nerve signals propagate. The current research was done in mice and rats. If the approach also works with human cells, it could eventually lead to cell therapies for diseases like inherited leukodystrophies -- disorders of the brain's white matter -- and multiple sclerosis, as well as spinal cord injuries.

Molecular hub links obesity, heart disease to high blood pressure

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 19:49:49 EDT

A new study identifies a brain protein that acts as a communications hub for blood pressure control, and links cardiovascular disease and obesity to hypertension.

What happens in the brain to make music rewarding?

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:30:30 EDT

A new study reveals what happens in our brain when we decide to purchase a piece of music when we hear it for the first time. The study pinpoints the specific brain activity that makes new music rewarding and predicts the decision to purchase music.

Mutations found in individuals with autism interfere with endocannabinoid signaling in the brain

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 12:38:38 EDT

Mutations found in individuals with autism block the action of molecules made by the brain that act on the same receptors that marijuana's active chemical acts on, according to new research. The findings implicate specific molecules, called endocannabinoids, in the development of some autism cases and point to potential treatment strategies.