Newly Understood Circuits Add Finesse to Nerve Signals

An unusual kind of circuit fine-tunes the brain’s control over movement and incoming sensory information, and without relying on conventional nerve pathways. The work may provide insight into the design of drugs for autism and movement disorders.

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A reporter's PressPass is required to access this story until the embargo expires on 5/27/2013 4:00 PM EDT

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A reporter's PressPass is required to access this story until the embargo expires on 5/27/2013 4:00 PM EDT

The Secret Lives (and Deaths) of Neurons

University of North Carolina School of Medicine researchers uncover surprising insights about how nerve cells rewire themselves, shedding light on a process linked with neurodegenerative diseases and neurodevelopmental disorders like schizophrenia and autism.

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Regenerating Spinal Cord Fibers May be Treatment for Stroke-Related Disabilities

A study by researchers at Henry Ford Hospital found “substantial evidence” that a regenerative process involving damaged nerve fibers in the spinal cord could hold the key to better functional recovery by most stroke victims. The findings may offer new hope to those who suffer stroke, the leading cause of long-term disability in adults.

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Migraine and Depression Together May Be Linked with Brain Size

Older people with a history of migraines and depression may have smaller brain tissue volumes than people with only one or neither of the conditions, according to a new study in the May 22, 2013, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

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Scientists Uncover Molecular Roots Of Cocaine Addiction In The Brain And Reveal A Promising New Anti-Addiction Drug

Researchers at Johns Hopkins have unraveled the molecular foundations of cocaine’s effects on the brain, and identified a compound that blocks cravings for the drug in cocaine-addicted mice. The compound, already proven safe for humans, is undergoing further animal testing in preparation for possible clinical trials in cocaine addicts, the researchers say.

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Common Brain Processes of Anesthetic-Induced Unconsciousness Identified

A study from the June issue of Anesthesiology found feedback from the front region of the brain is a crucial building block for consciousness and that its disruption is associated with unconsciousness.

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