Within the nervous system, a handful of signaling pathways modulate development of a cornucopia of different neuronal subtypes. Even small alterations in neuron differentiation pathways can disrupt subsequent circuit organization and catalyze the genesis of neurological disorders, explains Adrian Moore of the RIKEN Brain Science Institute in Wako.
Psychology
The auditory cortex adapts agilely with concentration
The birth of sensory perception on the human cerebral cortex is yet to be fully explained. The different areas on the cortex function in cooperation, and no perception is the outcome of only one area working alone. In his doctoral dissertation for the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Computational Science in Aalto University Jaakko Kauramäki shows that the auditory cortex is not left to its own devices.
World’s biggest stroke clot-buster trial reveals patient benefits
(Medical Xpress) — Patients given a clot-busting drug within six hours of a stroke are more likely to make a better recovery than those who do not receive the treatment, new research has found.
No new neurons in the human olfactory bulb
(Medical Xpress) — Research from Karolinska Institutet shows that the human olfactory bulb – a structure in the brain that processes sensory input from the nose – differs from that of other mammals in that no new neurons are formed in this area after birth. The discovery, which is published in the scientific journal Neuron, is based on the age-determination of the cells using the carbon-14 method, and might explain why the human sense of smell is normally much worse than that of other animals.
Treating pain with transplants
A new study finds that transplanting embryonic cells into adult mouse spinal cord can alleviate persistent pain. The research, published by Cell Press in the May 24th issue of the journal Neuron, suggests that reduced pain results from successful integration of the embryonic cells into the host spinal cord. The findings open avenues for clinical strategies aimed not just at treating the symptoms of chronic debilitating pain, but correcting the underlying disease pathology.