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 ...

Neuroscience

Researchers show serotonin can contribute to heart valve disease

The neurotransmitter serotonin can adversely affect the heart's mitral valve, contributing to a heart disease known as degenerative mitral regurgitation, according to a new multicenter study involving researchers from the ...

Neuroscience

Soft brain probe could be a boon for depression research

Anyone familiar with antidepressants like Prozac or Wellbutrin knows that these drugs boost levels of neurotransmitters in the brain like serotonin and dopamine, which are known to play an important role in mood and behavior.

Psychology & Psychiatry

Mouse study finds that fearlessness can be learned

The neurotransmitter serotonin plays a key role in both the onset and in the unlearning of fear and anxiety. A research team from the Department of General Zoology and Neurobiology headed by Dr. Katharina Spoida and Dr. Sandra ...

Neuroscience

Silent synapses are abundant in the adult brain

MIT neuroscientists have discovered that the adult brain contains millions of "silent synapses"—immature connections between neurons that remain inactive until they're recruited to help form new memories.

Neuroscience

Major discovery about mammalian brains surprises researchers

In a new breakthrough to understand more about the mammalian brain, University of Copenhagen researchers have made an incredible discovery. Namely, a vital enzyme that enables brain signals is switching on and off at random, ...

page 3 from 40