Ryk and Wnt Signaling Control Neural Remodeling and Improve Recovery After Spinal Cord Injury Neurobiologists at UC San Diego have shown that the same molecular signals that guide nervous system wiring during development also shape how neurons repair and reorganize after traumatic injury—and that manipulating these signals can enhance functional recovery. Many people with traumatic … Read more

Summary: Researchers have identified a critical connection between the Angiogenin (ANG) gene and several age-related neurodegenerative conditions, including frontotemporal dementia (FTD), motor neuron disease (MND), and Parkinson’s disease. Mutations in ANG slow the transition of stem cells into mature nerve cells, producing developmental abnormalities that may prime neurons for degeneration later in life. The study … Read more

Summary: A new register-based study from Denmark finds a measurable increase in depression diagnoses following the annual transition from daylight saving time to standard time. Source: Aarhus University. Transition to standard time linked to a rise in depression diagnoses A nationwide register study in Denmark reports a clear short-term rise in hospital-diagnosed depression immediately after … Read more

Summary: Researchers report that mast cells—immune cells often overlooked in neuroscience—play a critical role in shaping whether an animal’s sexual behavior develops with more male-typical or female-typical patterns. Chemically activating mast cells in newborn female rats produced adult behavior more characteristic of males. Source: Ohio State University. Immune cells in the developing brain influence later … Read more

Summary: New research finds that men with developmental dyslexia show weaker structural connections between the left auditory thalamus and the auditory motion-sensitive area of the cortex, a finding that highlights the role of early sensory pathways in reading ability. Altered Left Auditory Thalamus–Cortex Connectivity in Men with Dyslexia New findings published in the Journal of … Read more

Summary: Researchers identified and controlled a specific prefrontal-limbic circuit in mice, using precise electrodes and designer receptors to shift mood-related behavior. Precise control of brain circuits alters mood: mouse study Source: Duke University. Overview: Using ultra-fine electrode arrays together with tiny amounts of highly specific engineered receptors and a matching drug, researchers at Duke University … Read more

Summary: Researchers used single-cell methods to map the neuron types of the enteric nervous system in mice and traced how these cells diversify during fetal development. Their results reveal that enteric neuron formation follows distinct principles from brain neuron development. Source: Karolinska Institutet Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have produced a detailed molecular map of the … Read more

Summary: Researchers have developed a rapid, high-throughput imaging method that reveals the molecular composition of synapses at high resolution. Source: MIT Overview: The human brain contains millions of synapses—specialized junctions where neurons exchange signals. Each synapse hosts hundreds of proteins that shape connectivity and neural signaling. Dysregulation of these proteins can contribute to neurological and … Read more

Summary: Researchers have identified three previously unrecognized proteins that work together on the surface of clock neurons to make the circadian clock responsive to light. Source: University of Bristol. Drosophila fruit flies are named from the Latin for “dew loving” because they are most active at dawn and dusk. Their pronounced circadian rhythm—an approximately 24-hour … Read more

Summary: A new study clarifies how dopamine contributes to decision making by encoding the passage of time between rewards. Source: UT San Antonio. How do we judge whether waiting in line for a meal at a new restaurant was worth it? To make that judgment, the brain must register how rewarding the meal was and … Read more