RIKEN

New technique comprehensively generates three-dimensional maps of gene expression in the brain

A research team led by Yuko Okamura-Oho and Hideo Yokota of the RIKEN Advanced Science Institute, Wako, has developed a novel technique for three-dimensional (3D) mapping of gene expression patterns onto ...

Genetics created Jan 11, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Study of brain activity in monkeys shows how the brain processes mistakes made by others

Humans and other animals learn by making mistakes. They can also learn from observing the mistakes of others. The brain processes self-generated errors in a region called the medial frontal cortex (MFC) but ...

Neuroscience created Jan 11, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Staking out unknown genomic territory

Scientists have long known that the human genome is incredibly complex. However, after almost 10 years of hard work, a team of more than 400 scientists at 32 research institutions worldwide has finally made ...

Genetics created Jan 04, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (3) | comments 0

Japanese team creates cancer-specific killer T cells from induced pluripotent stem cells

Researchers from the RIKEN Research Centre for Allergy and Immunology in Japan report today that they have succeeded for the first time in creating cancer-specific, immune system cells called killer T lymphocytes, from induced ...

Medical research created Jan 03, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (3) | comments 0

Geneticists uncover a trail of variants associated with kidney dysfunction, specifically among East Asian populations

The past decade has seen a steady torrent of data linking human genetic variants associated with disease risk, and yet many important gaps remain. For example, many of these studies have focused primarily ...

Genetics created Dec 21, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Re-tuning responses in the visual cortex

New research led by Shigeru Tanaka of the University of Electro-Communications and visiting scientist at the RIKEN Brain Science Institute has shown that the responses of cells in the visual cortex can be ...

Neuroscience created Dec 21, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Identification of developmental 'master switch' helps scientists explore function of infection-preventing cells

Every bite of food or drink of water is an invitation for potentially harmful bacteria and viruses to set up shop in the body. In order to protect against such invaders, the mucous membrane that lines the ...

Immunology created Dec 14, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

The brain recruits its own decision-making circuits to simulate how other people make decisions

A team of researchers led by Hiroyuki Nakahara and Shinsuke Suzuki of the RIKEN Brain Science Institute has identified a set of brain structures that are critical for predicting how other people make decisions.

Neuroscience created Dec 14, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Managing cellular security systems

Conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) are the immune system's patrol. They recognize foreign threats and trigger a defensive response, while restraining immune reactions against inappropriate targets like host ...

Medical research created Nov 30, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

A more complicated network than generally accepted may control maturation of B cells in the immune system

The process of blood cell development, known as hematopoiesis, gives rise to numerous different immune cell subtypes. Each of these in turn matures through a stepwise process governed by the action of transcription ...

Medical research created Nov 22, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Identification of mutations common to half of all liver cancers provides leads for new therapeutics

Liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer worldwide and the third leading cause of cancer-associated deaths. Yet even for such a frequent and deadly disease, the pathogenesis of this cancer remains obscure. ...

Cancer created Nov 16, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Two heads are better than one: Gene expression reveals molecular mechanisms underlying evolution of cerebral cortex

Dramatic expansion of the human cerebral cortex, over the course of evolution, accommodated new areas for specialized cognitive function, including language. Understanding the genetic mechanisms underlying ...

Neuroscience created Nov 09, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Non-coding antisense RNA can be used to stimulate protein production

While studying Parkinson's disease, an international research group made a discovery which can improve industrial protein synthesis for therapeutic use. They managed to understand a novel function of non-protein ...

Genetics created Oct 16, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Transcription factor Prox1 controls hippocampal cellular diversity, researchers find

As is true of many brain structures, the hippocampus, which plays a central role in memory and learning, is made up of multiple cell types organized into domains controlling different functions. Distinct ...

Neuroscience created Oct 16, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Infants show greater unease towards computer-morphed faces when shown 'half-mother' images

When interacting with robots or animations with unnatural-looking faces, many people report a sense of unease. The face seems familiar yet alien, leaving the brain uncertain whether it is definitely human. ...

Psychology & Psychiatry created Oct 12, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast