Category: Brain/Neurology
- Human cortical neurons with extensive genomic abnormalities decline around birth ()
Published October 30, 2026. A Nature study published October 28 reports evidence that neurons carrying extensive DNA copy-number abnormalities become much less common around birth in the human cortex. Researchers sequenced the genomes of 2,357 individual neurons from postmortem brains spanning fetal and postnatal life. Across two sequencing approaches, an average of 25.9% of prenatal […]
- Cryo-EM study examines how human VIAAT packages inhibitory neurotransmitters ()
Published October 30, 2026. A Cell Research study combines cryo-electron microscopy, molecular dynamics simulations and functional experiments to investigate human VIAAT, the transporter that loads inhibitory neurotransmitters into synaptic vesicles. VIAAT packages both GABA and glycine for release by neurons. Understanding how it recognizes these different molecules and couples transport to ions helps explain a […]
- Magnetic muscle tracking supports virtual prosthetic control in three participants ()
Published October 29, 2026. A wearable magnetic sensor array tracks small implanted magnets to measure muscle movement. Shallal and colleagues describe the system today in Nature Sensors, with potential applications in prosthetic control. The platform follows passive magnetic beads measuring three millimeters in diameter inside muscle tissue. Customized electronics provide submillimeter tracking resolution at depths […]
- Fly connectome simulations identify a candidate three-neuron walking rhythm circuit ()
Published October 29, 2026. Simulations built from fly nerve-cord connectomes have identified a candidate circuit for generating walking rhythms. Pugliese and colleagues published the study in Nature on October 28. The researchers simulated the connections in the Drosophila ventral nerve cord and screened descending inputs from the brain. DNg100, a known walking command neuron, was […]
- Hi-APEX enables spatial molecular mapping without added hydrogen peroxide ()
Published October 29, 2026. A new proximity-labeling method maps molecular neighborhoods without adding hydrogen peroxide. Chen and colleagues introduce Hi-APEX today in Nature Chemical Biology. Conventional APEX2 labeling requires hydrogen peroxide, which can disturb the redox-sensitive processes researchers want to observe. Hi-APEX instead uses a clickable tetrazine-phenol probe with the existing enzyme. The labeling reaction […]
- GPR35 links a lipid metabolite to itch circuits in preclinical research ()
Published October 29, 2026. A study identifies a sensory receptor linking a lipid metabolite to itch and inflammation. Wheeler and colleagues report the findings today in Communications Biology. The researchers found that EKODE, an oxidized derivative of linoleic acid, activates Gpr35 in a subset of sensory neurons. Their experiments connect this signaling to an itch […]
- Feedback-controlled norepinephrine stabilizes spinal cord perfusion in animal models ()
Published October 29, 2026. A feedback-controlled infusion system aims to stabilize blood flow after spinal cord injury. Routkevitch and colleagues report the preclinical work today in Nature Biomedical Engineering. The system uses local perfusion measurements to adjust norepinephrine delivery, rather than relying solely on arterial blood pressure as a surrogate for the injured tissue’s circulation. […]
- Review maps synaptic mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities in neurodegeneration ()
Published October 29, 2026. A review published today in Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy examines how synaptic dysfunction contributes to neurodegenerative disease and surveys approaches aimed at preserving communication between neurons. Sun and colleagues organize the evidence around presynaptic and postsynaptic mechanisms in glutamatergic, GABAergic, cholinergic and dopaminergic systems. They also consider receptor-associated proteins and […]
- Thalamus–red nucleus circuit modulates arousal during anesthesia in mice ()
Published October 29, 2026. A mouse study identifies a thalamus-to-red-nucleus pathway involved in arousal during sevoflurane anesthesia. Dai and colleagues published the findings in Communications Biology on October 26. The researchers examined glutamatergic neurons expressing Vglut2 in the central medial thalamus. Their activity decreased as animals lost responsiveness under anesthesia and increased during recovery. Chemogenetic […]
- Alzheimer’s genetic study identifies 48 new risk loci and cellular pathways ()
Published October 29, 2026. A large genetic study published in Nature on October 28 identifies additional Alzheimer’s disease risk regions and highlights links to microglial and neuronal biology. The analysis combined 30 cohorts, including 109,479 cases and 74,141 proxy cases, alongside more than two million controls and additional proxy controls. Proxy cases were genotyped people […]