Medical research

Understanding the role of octopamine in neurodegeneration

Northwestern Medicine scientists have discovered how octopamine, the major "fight-or-flight" neurotransmitter in invertebrates, communicates with other cells in mammalian brains to prevent cell death, according to a study ...

Neuroscience

Astrocyte dysfunction found to cause cognitive decline

People with dementia have protein build-up in astrocytes that may trigger abnormal antiviral activity and memory loss, according to a preclinical study by a team of Weill Cornell Medicine investigators.

Health

Exercise boosts brain health with chemical signals, study shows

Physical activity is frequently cited as a means of improving physical and mental health. Researchers at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology have shown that it may also improve brain health more directly. ...

Psychology & Psychiatry

The brain's support cells may play a key role in OCD

A type of cell usually characterized as the brain's support system appears to play an important role in obsessive-compulsive disorder-related behaviors, according to new UCLA Health research published April 12 in Nature.

Neuroscience

Overwhelmed? Your astrocytes can help with that

A brimming inbox on Monday morning sets your head spinning. You take a moment to breathe and your mind clears enough to survey the emails one by one. This calming effect occurs thanks to a newly discovered brain circuit involving ...

Neuroscience

Astrocyte cells critical for learning skilled movements

From steering a car to swinging a tennis racket, we learn to execute all kinds of skilled movements during our lives. You might think this learning is only implemented by neurons, but a new study by researchers at The Picower ...

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