The brains of mammals expend a significant amount of energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). This is the molecule that cells use to transfer energy, ultimately fueling several biological processes.
Neuroscience
Propolis from a Morocco-native plant found to improve cognitive function in male rats experiencing chronic mild stress
Chronic stress can have adverse effects on both the minds and bodies of affected individuals. Past studies suggest that particularly stressful life events can also impact people's cognitive abilities, for instance, producing changes in their memory and sometimes...
Nested premotor circuits activity found to drive male flies’ production of distinct courtship songs
While they are courting, some animals produce distinct sound patterns that clearly convey their intentions to potential mates. These sounds are typically produced via a series of muscle movements, which are in turn planned and controlled by neural circuits.
Study suggests that attention networks support changes in cortical organization and cognition during childhood
Past neuroscience studies have consistently highlighted the profound changes that the human brain undergoes throughout childhood and adolescence. These efforts have uncovered various stages of development, during which the brain's organization evolves to support...
Hippocampal study unveils distinct protein machineries for calcium channel clustering and vesicle priming
In neuroscience, the term 'active zone' is used to refer to a specialized area in the presynaptic membrane of synapses (i.e., the connections via which neurons transmit electric nerve signals to each other or to other cells). The active zone is the site where...
Study explores the cell-type-specific effects of aging and sex on human cortical neurons
Aging is known to have profound effects on the human brain, prompting changes in the composition of cells and the expression of genes, while also altering aspects of the interaction between genes and environmental factors. While past neuroscience studies have...
Study outlines an activity-regulated genetic program underlying the formation of synapses during development
Synapses are junctions via which neurons communicate with each other or with other types of cells. Synapses are formed throughout the course of a person's life, yet their strength and numbers change over time, a phenomenon known as synaptic plasticity.
How hunger influences aversive learning in fruit flies
Internal states that animals experience while they are thirsty, hungry, sleepy or aggressive have been found to be linked with the combined activity of various neuromodulators and neurotransmitters. These chemical messengers can drastically change the excitability and...
Neuron populations in the medial prefrontal cortex shown to code the learning of avoidant behaviors
Over the course of their lives, animals form associations between sensory stimuli and predicted threats or rewards. These associations can, in turn, shape the behaviors of animals, prompting them to engage in avoidant behaviors (e.g., avoiding specific stimuli and...
Deep brain stimulation study models impulsivity and risk aversion
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a neurosurgical procedure that entails the implantation of electrodes in specific brain regions, to subsequently stimulate these regions via high frequency electric impulses. This procedure is a highly effective therapeutic intervention...