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Another excellent paper from Johann G. Danzl’s research group. They develop methods that combine novel negative staining techniques, deep learning, and super-resolution STED microscopy or expansion microscopy to facilitate nanoscale-resolution imaging of brain tissue volumes. They also show semi-automated (and some fully automated) segmentation of neuron morphology and identification of synapses. Very cool work and I’m excited to see how it influences connectomics in the future! #brain #neuroscience #imaging #microscopy #neurotech

Mapping fixed brain samples with extracellular labeling and optical microscopy reveals synaptic connections.

The development of your baby’s brain could be influenced by the microbes in their belly, scientists have found.

The trillions of microbes that live inside our guts play essential roles in a range of bodily processes, from digestion to mental health. The gut contains more than 100 million nerve cells—the highest concentration in any part of the body other than the brain. Now, we are also beginning to learn about the roles of these microbes in the earliest stages of our lives.

“The microbiome plays an important role in the early development of several systems, such as the nervous and immune system, as well as providing another layer of protection against pathogens [disease],” Sebastian Hunter, a researcher from the University of British Columbia who led a study on the subject published Wednesday in the scientific journal PLOS One, told Newsweek.

And appeared in everything from mythology to comic books, but the future might offer technologies that turn these dreams into reality.
Today we’ll explore some of those options, from superstrength and speed to options like telepathy.

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Continue reading “Superpowers: The dream of having superhuman abilities is as old as humanity” »

You could be walking around with an unruptured brain aneurysm. But don’t panic – the Brain Aneurysm Foundation estimates that about 1 in 50 people in the U.S. has an unruptured brain aneurysm. Director of Endovascular Neurosurgery Koji Ebersole, MD, says people are surprised to learn that the majority of aneurysms don’t cause any symptoms.

An aneurysm develops when a vessel in the brain has a thin spot, which then fills with blood, creating a bulge or balloon shape. Most brain aneurysms are small, about the size of a pea. Because the brain itself has no sensory fibers, there is no pain and the brain doesn’t register that the aneurysm is there.

“Most patients find out they have an aneurysm for a completely unrelated reason,” Dr. Ebersole says. “Maybe they’re having trouble with their sinuses and have a CT scan and the doctors find an aneurysm. When you learn you have an aneurysm, it’s important to meet with a physician who’s practiced in neurology to talk about the implications.”

A recent study published in BMJ Gut conducted using a nationwide medical record network in the United States has shed light on potential links between gastrointestinal (GI) syndromes and the development of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Researchers led by Bo Konings aimed to determine whether specific GI conditions and interventions precede the onset of PD when compared with negative controls, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and cerebrovascular diseases (CVD).

Here are the key findings from the study:

● PD-Specific Associations: The study identified several GI conditions that exhibited specific associations with PD in both case-control and cohort analyses. These conditions included gastroparesis, dysphagia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) without diarrhoea, and constipation.

A new neural cell type with astrocyte characteristics and the molecular machinery for synaptic transmission has been discovered.

He added the study may lead doctors to try finding medications to mimic the effect of exercise without actually requiring physical activity.

“While this research shows promising results, a lot more research would be needed to show how much of an impact it would make on people with Alzheimer’s and how much would be needed for a preventive effect,” Voci said. “But I would argue that this gives more evidence to the broad spectrum of what exercise can treat. Exercise is medicine.”

Researchers from the California-based startup REMspace successfully transferred melodies from lucid dreams to reality using electronic sensors and specialized software. The study, which recorded melodies dreamt during lucid dreams via electromyography (EMG), opens possibilities for musicians to capture and share unique compositions directly from their dreams…

In a recent study published in Nature, researchers investigated whether glutamatergic gliotransmission was mediated by specialized astrocytes in the central nervous system.

The role of astrocytes in brain circuitry function, such as swift glutamate release, has been questioned due to inconsistent data and lack of direct evidence. This mechanism, similar to neurons, controls plasticity, excitability, and coordinated activity of synaptic-type networks but also contributes to neuropsychiatric conditions.