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Category: neuroscience – Page 389

Single-neuron mechanism may bridge gap between working memory and long-term memory

The human working memory (WM) is the cognitive system responsible for the temporary storage and processing of information vital to task completion. In contrast, human long-term memory (LTM) is the system that holds information for prolonged periods of time, organizing acquired knowledge into distinct categories, such as facts, events, skills and habits.

For decades, most psychologists and neuroscientists have viewed these two memory components as separate systems, one tackling short-term and the other long-term tasks, supported by distinct neural processes. Therefore, most studies conducted so far have focused on only one of these systems, instead of exploring the potential connections between working memory and long-term memory processes.

Researchers at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other institutes recently set out to simultaneously investigate the neural underpinnings of both WM and LTM, to determine whether these systems utilize some common mechanisms to store information. Their findings, published in Neuron, suggest that the two systems interact in the hippocampus, with persistent WM activity predicting the formation of LTM.

Scientists discover dream people have that could be an early sign of dementia ‘in almost all cases’

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Researchers are starting to find patterns in how we sleep that could point to early signs of dementia or Parkinson’s disease.

There are some obvious signs that your loved one could be showing early signs of dementia, which affects almost seven million people in the US.

The common signs include being unable to learn new tasks, struggling to stay focussed, finding it hard to contribute in conversations, mistaking things for other objects and/or getting unusually emotional or afraid.

Brain Regions that Relieve Effects of Chronic Stress in Mice Differ based on Sex

Subtle activation of a small subset of neurons in one region of the brain can make male mice resilient to, and even reverse, the detrimental effects of chronic stress. The same is true for female mice, but in a totally different region of the brain.

Researchers at Penn State reported these findings in two studies published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry and said the results could help explain the efficacy, or lack thereof, of certain antidepressant drugs and inform the development of new drugs and therapies.

The team developed a protocol to continuously activate neurons that produce the signaling molecule somatostatin, which helps regulate several biological processes, in specific brain regions in mice. The researchers found that doing so in a region of the brain called the prelimbic cortex made male mice resilient to stress, but failed to do so in female mice.

‘RNA lanterns’ could offer new insights into viruses and human memory

RNA is the molecule that reads the genetic information stored in DNA. It’s critical for the proper functioning of cells, and in a new study published in Nature Communications, University of California, Irvine scientists have discovered a way of tagging RNA with a glowing bioluminescent molecule that allows them to track RNA in real time as it moves throughout the body. The work promises to help scientists better understand everything from the way viruses propagate to how memories form in the brain.

Cephalopods Pass Cognitive Test Designed For Human Children

Back in 2021, a test of cephalopod smarts reinforced how important it is for us humans to not underestimate animal intelligence.

Cuttlefish were given a new version of the marshmallow test, and the results may demonstrate that there’s more going on in their strange little brains than we knew.

Their ability to learn and adapt, the researchers said, could have evolved to give cuttlefish an edge in the cutthroat eat-or-be-eaten marine world they live in.

World’s first cryopreservation facility could unlock immortality, delay death

Think of a future where terminal illnesses can be temporarily halted, allowing time for the development of potential cures.

TimeShift, the world’s first cryopreservation facility, seeks to make the impossible – extending human lifespan – a reality.

The conceptualized facility would provide a means of freezing or preserving patients’ bodies with terminal illnesses. This way, it could mitigate the progression of neurodegenerative diseases and aggressive cancers. And possibly enable experts to develop a cure.

Youthful Brain Stem Cells Linked to Autism and Brain Cancer

Summary: Researchers have identified a unique stem cell in the young brain capable of maturing into multiple cell types, potentially explaining the origins of autism and glioblastoma. These stem cells show gene expression patterns that regulate early brain development and, when disrupted, could lead to neurological conditions.

The study provides a detailed gene expression map, linking autism-related genes to immature neurons active during brain growth. The findings open avenues for targeting glioblastoma’s origins and better understanding autism’s developmental roots.

How macronucleophagy ensures survival in nitrogen-starved yeast

Autophagy, the cell’s essential housekeeping process, involves degrading and recycling damaged organelles, proteins, and other components to prevent clutter. This vital mechanism, found in all life forms from single-celled organisms to plants and animals, is key to maintaining cellular homeostasis. Its disruption is linked to many known diseases in humans, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and cancer.

Though understanding in detail is important from medical and biological perspectives, it is not a one-size-fits-all process. There are several forms of autophagy that differ in how the components to be degraded are transported to the lysosomes or vacuoles—the organelles that serve as the cell’s waste disposal and recycling centers.

Autophagy targets a range of intracellular components, including a part of the nucleus that stores important chromosomes. However, the physiological significance of autophagic degradation of the nucleus remains unknown.

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