Nervous System; Parkinson

When a hunting dog picks up the scent of a deer, it sometimes freezes. On the spot. The same thing can happen to people who need to concentrate on a challenging task. Now researchers have made a discovery that adds to our knowledge of what…

Boosting the activity of inhibitory interneurons in Fragile X mice reduced their hypersensitivity to sensory stimuli, according to a new Neuron study led by UCLA Health researchers. Fragile X Syndrome, which is caused by a mutation in a…

A small nucleus in the brainstem called locus coeruleus (literally the "blue spot,") is the primary source of a major neuromodulator, norepinephrine (NE), an important mediator of the 'fight or flight' response in animals. However, very…

In patients with Huntington's disease, neurons in a part of the brain called the striatum are among the hardest-hit. Degeneration of these neurons contributes to patients' loss of motor control, which is one of the major hallmarks of the…

When neurons involved in movement -- called motor neurons -- form, they must build connections that reach from the brain, brainstem, or spinal cord all the way to the head, arms, or the tips of the toes. How neurons navigate these systems…

Neurons often get most of the credit for keeping our brains sharp and functioning -- as well as most of the blame when it comes to brain diseases. But star-shaped cells called astrocytes, another abundant cell in the human brain, may bear…

A drug typically used to treat enlarged prostates and high blood pressure has shown promise as a potential new therapy for motor neuron disease (MND) -- also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) -- according to a new study. MND is a…

The gene defect underlying Krabbe disease causes degeneration of neurons directly, independent of its effects on other cell types, according to a new study publishing July 5 in the open-access journal PLOS Biology by Daesung Shin of the…

When we initiate an action in our everyday lives—chasing after a runaway napkin or getting out of the car—the brain releases a chemical messenger called dopamine that helps regulate the brain area that controls this action. Dopamine…

Motor neurons play a vital role in movement, linking the central nervous system with different muscles in the body. As such, scientists are very interested in understanding the biological mechanisms that control how these neurons form. On…