New mechanism fueling brain metastasis
Scientists described a novel mechanism through which astrocytes, the most abundant supporting cells in the brain, also promote cancer cell growth and metastasis in the brain.
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New method visualizes groups of neurons as they compute
Using a fluorescent probe that lights up when brain cells are electrically active, researchers found they can image the activity of many neurons at once, in mice brains. The technique could allow neuroscientists to analyze circuits within the brain and link them to specific behaviors.
Read moreHow neuronal migration and outgrowth shape network architecture
Neurons are not randomly arranged in the human brain. In the cortex, they are organized in interconnected clusters with high intrinsic connectivity. This modular connectivity structure, in which clusters eventually serve as functional units, is formed in early phases of development. The underlying self-organization process is regulated by neuronal activity but the detailed mechanisms are still poorly understood. Based on in vitro studies and computational modeling, neuroscientists have now made an important contribution to the understanding of brain networks and their development: in their current study, they show how neuronal outgrowth and migration interact in shaping network architecture and the degree of modularity in mature networks.
Read moreHow can ultrasonic brain stimulation cure brain diseases?
Scientists found a calcium channel expressed in astrocytes in the brain to be a highly sensitive target for LILFU-induced neuronal activity in the motor cortex, such as tail movement.
Read moreThe effectiveness of electrical stimulation in producing spinal fusion
Researchers performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of published data on the effect of electrical stimulation therapies on spinal fusion. They found significant improvement overall in the rates of bone fusion following a course of electrical stimulation in both preclinical (animal) and clinical (human) studies.
Read moreAnalysis of US labor data suggests 'reskilling' workers for a 'feeling economy'
A study of US labor data suggests AI is already taking 'thinking economy' jobs from humans, and this trend will grow in the future. This will push more people into 'feeling economy' jobs that require things like interpersonal relationship skills and emotional intelligence.
Read moreBrain tunes itself to criticality, maximizing information processing
Criticality is truly a set point, and not a mere inevitability. New research confirms this long-standing prediction in the brains of freely behaving animals.
Read moreSurprise contributor to multiple sclerosis
The discovery suggests new avenues for devising treatments and is a vital step toward finding a cure.
Read moreNavigating 'Neuralville': Virtual town helps map brain functions
Experiments showed that the brain's parahippocampal place area is involved in recognizing a particular kind of place, while the brain's retrosplenial complex is involved in mentally mapping the locations of particular places.
Read moreComputer model helps make sense of human memory
Researchers have created an artificial network to simulate the brain, demonstrating that tinkering with inhibitory circuits leads to extended memory.
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