Summary: Researchers have developed a geometric deep learning approach to uncover shared brain activity patterns across individuals. The method, called MARBLE, learns dynamic motifs from neural recordings and identifies common strategies used by different brains to solve the same task.Tested on macaques and rats, MARBLE accurately decoded neural activity linked...
Summary: New research shows that early life stress disrupts dopamine signaling, altering social motivation and behavior. Scientists found that mice raised in stressful conditions were less likely to engage in social interactions compared to those with enriched experiences.The study identifies a weakened neural pathway between the ventral tegmental area and...
Summary: A new study reveals that the body’s internal clock plays a key role in eating behavior, influencing when and how much adolescents eat. Researchers found that teens with overweight or obesity consumed significantly more calories later in the day compared to those with a healthy weight.By isolating circadian influences...
Summary: Adults with a history of depression develop long-term physical conditions about 30% faster than those without, according to a large study. Researchers analyzed data from over 172,000 participants and found that those with depression accrued an average of 0.2 additional conditions per year, compared to 0.16 in those without....
Summary: Scientists have developed a lipid nanoparticle system that enables mRNA to cross the blood-brain barrier, a long-standing challenge in neuroscience. In studies using mice and human brain tissue, these nanoparticles successfully delivered therapeutic mRNA, opening doors for potential treatments for neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s, ALS, and brain cancer.Unlike traditional...
Summary: Researchers have mapped over 70,000 synaptic connections in rat neurons using a silicon chip with 4,096 microhole electrodes, significantly advancing neuronal recording technology. Unlike traditional electron microscopy, which only visualizes synapses, this method also measures connection strength, providing deeper insight into brain network function.The chip mimics patch-clamp electrodes but...
Summary: A new study reveals how AI-driven deep learning models can decode the genetic regulatory switches that define brain cell types across species. By analyzing human, mouse, and chicken brains, researchers found that some brain cell types remain highly conserved over 320 million years, while others have evolved uniquely.This regulatory...
Summary: Environmental factors like stress and medication exposure during pregnancy can shape brain development, but the mechanisms remain unclear. Researchers used brain organoids to study the effects of synthetic glucocorticoids, commonly given to prevent complications in premature births.They found that prolonged exposure led to a shift in neuron types, increasing...
Summary: Researchers have found that intracranial hemorrhages, or “brain bleeds,” double the risk of developing dementia later in life. While ischemic strokes caused by blood clots have long been linked to cognitive decline, this study shows that hemorrhages also significantly increase dementia risk.Using Medicare data from nearly 15,000 patients, scientists...
Summary: New research sheds light on how ketamine affects the brain by targeting a specific NMDA receptor subtype, GluN1-2B-2D. Scientists used electron cryo-microscopy to capture how ketamine binds to this receptor, revealing multiple attachment sites that influence brain activity.These findings help explain ketamine’s antidepressant effects but also highlight the risks...
