News
Cell Culture Models Shed Light on Astrocyte-Controlled Synaptic Activity
Synaptic transmission is a key process that fuels the nervous system. Without it, cells would not be able to communicate – meaning there would be no way to, say, pull your hand away from a hot stove. Now, scientists from Japan’s esteemed RIKEN Center for Brain Science have discovered a new development in synaptic activity ...
Cell Culture Models Could Help Patients with Rare Disease
Pompe disease is a rare lysosomal storage disease, with cases estimated at only one in every 40,000 births. While an enzyme replacement treatment for Pompe disease is available, it is time-consuming and incredibly costly to today’s patients. Left untreated, this condition can lead to early death, which is why alternative treatments are so urgent. Now, ...
Mouse Model Could Help Develop New MS Drugs
Nearly one million people are living with multiple sclerosis (MS) in the United States. This debilitating condition results from damage to the nerve fibers in the central nervous system, causing symptoms including fatigue, difficulties with walking or movement, spasticity, and cognitive changes. But Science Daily reports that recent research from the University of Alberta could ...
Primates, Mice, and Neuronal Plasticity
When you think of a mouse compared to a primate – a chimpanzee, for example – it’s pretty easy to determine which animal is “smarter.” After all, chimpanzees have a rich communication style and strictly organized communities. With that in mind, it’s easy to assume that primates are more sophisticated than mice. But a recent ...
Could Earworms Actually Boost Your Brain?
You hear a radio jingle or catch a snippet of a catchy TV theme song. All of a sudden, you can’t get the tune out of your head. You’ve got an earworm – a pesky melody that you just can’t kick – and it’s driving you berserk. But a recent study outlined in Science Daily ...