Category: Neuroscience

The basal ganglia comprise two principal input nuclei, the striatum and the subthalamic nucleus (STN), and two principal output nuclei, the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr) and the internal globus pallidus (GPi) (primates), which in cats and rodents is known as the entopeduncular nucleus. The external globus pallidus (GPe) is principally an intrinsic structure that…

The locus coeruleus is a nucleus in the pons (part of the brainstem) involved with physiological responses to stress and panic. The locus coeruleus is the principal site for brain synthesis of norepinephrine (noradrenaline). The locus coeruleus and the areas of the body affected by the norepinephrine it produces are described collectively as the locus…

A new memory framework that explains how neurons retain select memories a few hours after an event has been created by scientists at the Salk Institute. This new model provides a more complete picture of how memory works, which can help research into disorders liked Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, PTSD, and learning disabilities. Said Terry Sejnowski, holder…

A new study has shed more light on the factors likely to lead to the development of Ménière’s Disease. Researchers at the University of Exeter Medical School have been able to suggest what goes wrong in the body when people develop the disease, and provide an insight into factors that lead to its development. Ménière’s…

Imagine yourself, a picture of sartorial elegance and sipping champagne from a crystal flute, in Le Grande Casino at Monte Carlo. It is a Monday night – in fact, the date is August 18, 1913 – and you are enjoying the tables surrounded by others, all of whom are similarly well-dressed, well-heeled and well-oiled. You…

Amyloid beta refers to peptides of 36–43 amino acids that are crucially involved in Alzheimer’s disease as the main component of the amyloid plaques found in the brains of Alzheimer patients. The peptides result from the amyloid precursor protein (APP), which is cleaved by beta secretase and gamma secretase to yield Amyloid beta (Aβ). Aβ…

The Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) gene provides instructions for making a protein found in the brain and spinal cord called brain-derived neurotrophic factor. This protein promotes the survival of nerve cells (neurons) by playing a role in the growth, maturation (differentiation), and maintenance of these cells. In the brain, the BDNF protein is active…

The cerebral cortex is the outermost layer of neural tissue in the brain and is one of the most extensively studied brain structures in the field of neuroscience. For mammals, this part of the brain is involved in higher-order functions such as cognition, emotion, and consciousness. And it was long thought to be a dense…

Transcranial direct-current stimulation allows patients in a minimally conscious state to recover cognitive and motor skills, University of Liège researchers have shown. The simple, safe and relatively low-cost technique could offer clinicians a new way to help these patients recover, even several years after their coma. The positive effects however, appear to be temporary at…