Graphene flakes to calm synapses
Innovative graphene technology to buffer the activity of synapses-- this is the idea behind a recently-published study in the journal ACS Nano coordinated by the International School for Advanced Studies in Trieste (SISSA) and the University of Trieste. In particular, the study showed how effective graphene oxide flakes are at interfering with excitatory synapses, an effect that could prove useful in new treatments for diseases like epilepsy.
Read more -
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/05/160510084623.htm  
#neurosciences #brain #HumanBrain #neurons #synapses #graphene

Synapses Last as Long as the Memories They Hold

A team of Bio-X scientists applied microscopy know-how to a long-standing theory in neuroscience: if brain connections called synapses store memories, those synapses should last as long as the memories themselves. It turns out they do, as Mark Schnitzer was able to show.

The research is in Nature. (full access paywall)

#memory   #synapses  

Intermediary Neuron Acts as Synaptic Cloaking Device

Full article at http://neurosciencenews.com/synapses-somatostatin-neocortex-1806/.

Researchers find that somatostatin neurons regulate synaptic activity in the neocortex.

The research is in Current Biology. (full access paywall)

Research: "Neocortical Somatostatin Neurons Reversibly Silence Excitatory Transmission via GABAb Receptors" by Joanna Urban-Ciecko, Erika E. Fanselow, and Alison L. Barth in Current Biology doi:10.1016/j.cub.2015.01.035

Image: Researchers with Carnegie Mellon's BrainHub have discovered a mechanism for synaptic cloaking in the brain's neo-cortex. Image credit: Carnegie Mellon University.

#neuroscience   #synapses  

Learning Without Conflict

Full article at http://neurosciencenews.com/hebbian-learning-synaptic-plasticity-1689/.

A mathematical equation explains how equilibrium is achieved between two forms of synaptic plasticity during brain learning.

The research in in Neuron. (full open access)

Research: “Modeling the Dynamic Interaction of Hebbian and Homeostatic Plasticity” by Taro Toyoizumi, Megumi Kaneko, Michael P. Stryker, and Kenneth D. Miller in Neuron. Published online October 22 2014 doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2014.09.036 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2014.09.036)

Image: During learning, synapses in the brain strength and weaken as a result of Hebbian and homeostatic plasticity. An equation describing the interaction of the two forms of plasticity explains experience-dependent reorganization of cortical circuitry during visual learning experiments. This diagram of a synapse is for illustrative purposes only. Credit Nemo.

#synapses   #neuroscience   #learning  

Small number of synapses found to be active in neurotransmission
Researchers at Columbia University say they have developed a new optical technique to study how information is transmitted in the brains of mice. Using this method, they found that only a small portion of synapses may be active at any given time.The team's study ("Fluorescent false neurotransmitter reveals functionally silent dopamine vesicle clusters in the striatum") appears in Nature Neuroscience. « Understanding how we accomplish complex tasks, such as learning and memory, requires us to look at how our brains transmit neurotransmitters across synapses from one neuron to another, » said David Sulzer, Ph.D., professor of neurobiology in psychiatry, neurology, and pharmacology at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC). « Older techniques only revealed what was going on in large groups of synapses. We needed a way to observe the neurotransmitter activity of individual synapses to help us better understand their intricate behavior. »
Read more - http://www.genengnews.com/gen-news-highlights/small-number-of-synapses-found-to-be-active-in-neurotransmission/81252412/ …
#neuroscience #brain #neurons #synapses #neurotransmission #Health

Persistent changes in neuronal structure and synaptic plasticity caused by proton irradiation
Routinely to control the growth of primary and secondary brain tumors, but often results in serious and debilitating cognitive dysfunction.  While the precise causes of radiation-induced cognitive impairment remain elusive, it is widely known that changes in neuronal structure can account for the cognitive decline observed in normal aging and in the early stages of numerous neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.  Many of the consequences of the foregoing insults to the brain can be linked to alterations in the outgrowth and elongation of dendrites, branching of the dendrites, number of dendritic endings and cell body area.  Morphologic changes of neurons, dendrites and spines usually reflect a response to adverse conditions such as irradiation that trigger adaptive remodeling within the compromised microenvironment of the brain. Dendritic spines are small membranous protrusions on neuronal dendrites that receive synaptic input from axon terminals and represent the structural correlates of learning and memory.  Changes in dendritic spines can have tremendous effects on synaptic function and neurotransmission.  Our findings now demonstrate that clinically and environmentally relevant exposure of the CNS to proton irradiation can elicit significant and dose-responsive reductions in dendritic complexity and spine density that parallel major alterations in pre- and post-synaptic protein levels.  Evidence suggests that these changes persist over time and contribute significantly to radiation-induced cognitive dysfunction.
Read more - https://globalmedicaldiscovery.com/key-scientific-articles/persistent-changes-neuronal-structure-synaptic-plasticity-caused-proton-irradiation/         
#neuroscience #neurons #irradiations #SynapticPlasticity #synapses

Synapse Overload

The brain truly is a miraculous marvel. I know that my brain is composed of a cerebrum, a cerebellum, and a medulla oblongata, but mere words these are. They approximate the human brain as performing 86 billion to 17.5 trillion action potentials per second. That is an amazing feat. When I photograph something, I am merely capturing an image that in a sense anyone around me can see for themselves. I wonder how many synapses have been performed per second to capture that image ? But when it comes to creating something out of your mind, how many synapses per second  are being fired in your brain I wonder. I don't what compelled me to create this digital piece the way I did, I merely let my brain guide me. This piece was created starting with Sketch Book Pro for the an outline basis. One I had the outline done, then it was off to Photoshop to add some life to it, going from a white background and black lines, and  adding color, texture, and lighting. Through out this whole process, I was constantly wondering why I creating it this way, and what is it, as I was simply following the impulses of my own synapses.  I do hope you enjoy.

#digitalart #synapses #brainrarts #artwork #sketchbookpro #photoshop #simpsonography #ericsimpson  

How Synapses are Destroyed in Early Stages of Alzheimer's Disease

A team of researchers led by UNSW Australia scientists has discovered how connections between brain cells are destroyed in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease - work that opens up a new avenue for research on possible treatments for the degenerative brain condition.

The research is in Nature Communications. (full open access)

#alzheimers #synapses #neurology

Synapses - Stability in Transformation

Full article at http://goo.gl/mz0LzQ.

Synapses remain stable if their components grow in coordination with each other.

Synapses are the points of contact at which information is transmitted between neurons. Without them, we would not be able to form thoughts or remember things. For memories to endure, synapses sometimes have to remain stable for very long periods. But how can a synapse last if its components have to be replaced regularly? Scientists from the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology in Martinsried near Munich have taken a decisive step towards answering this question. They have succeeded in demonstrating that when a synapse is formed, all of the components must grow in a coordinated way. This is the only way that a long-term functioning synapse, –the basic prerequisite of learning and memory processes, can be formed. This kind of interactive system must allow for the replacement of individual molecules while the other components stabilise the synapse.

The research is in Neuron. (full access paywall)

Research: “Balance and stability of synaptic structures during synaptic plasticity” by Daniel Meyer, Tobias Bonhoeffer, and Volker Scheuss in Neuron. doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2014.02.031

Image: During the learning processes, extensions grow on neurons. Synapses are located at the end of these extensions (left: as seen in nature; right: reconstruction). When the synapse growth is based on the correlated development of all synaptic components, it can remain stable for long periods of time. Credit Daniel Meyer/Max Planck Institute.

#neuroscience   #synapses  

New insights into neural computations in cerebral cortex
New insights into neural computations in cerebral cortex. Scientists at the MPFI have provided strong evidence that the arrangement of synaptic connections within the dendritic field supports an active role for dendrites in cortical processing and that these dendritic computations shape how neurons encode visual information.
http://www.eurekalert.org/multimedia/pub/117407.php  
#neurons #synapses #brain #neuroscience #HumanBrain #CognitiveScience #cortex #VisualCortex

Mind the Gap! How Synapses Remain Stable When Neuronal Activity Increases

Full article at http://neurosciencenews.com/static-synapses-axons-neuroscience-2291/.

A new study characterizes a novel way in which neurons remain electrically stable when confronted with chronic increases in neuronal activity.

The research is in PNAS. (full open access)

Research: "Activity-dependent mismatch between axo-axonic synapses and the axon initial segment controls neuronal output" by Winnie Wefelmeyer, Daniel Cattaert, and Juan Burrone in PNAS doi:10.1073/pnas.1502902112

Image: Axon initial segments (blue) and the synapses that form along them (red and green) are shown. Image credit: Winnie Wefelmeyer/MRC Centre for Developmental Neurobiology.

#neuroscience   #synapses  

Understanding the Mechanism Driving Synapse Dysfunction

Genetic analysis of human patients has shown that mutations in genes involved in synaptic communication can drive neuropsychiatric and neurological diseases such as autism spectrum disorder and Alzheimer’s disease.

The research is in Neuron. (full access paywall)

#neuroscience   #synapses  

Physicists build « electronic synapses » for neural networks
A team of scientists from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) have created prototypes of "electronic synapses" based on ultra-thin films of hafnium oxide (HfO2). These prototypes could be used in fundamentally new computing systems. The paper has been published in the journal Nanoscale Research Letters. The group of researchers from MIPT have made HfO2-based memristors measuring just 40x40 nm2. The nanostructures they built exhibit properties similar to biological synapses. Using newly developed technology, the memristors were integrated in matrices—in the future, this technology may be used to design computers that function similarly to biological neural networks. Memristors (resistors with memory) are devices that are able to change their state (conductivity) depending on the charge passing through them, and they therefore have a memory of their "history". In this study, the scientists used devices based on thin-film hafnium oxide, a material that is already used in the production of modern processors. This means that this new lab technology could, if required, easily be used in industrial processes. "In a simpler version, memristors are promising binary non-volatile memory cells in which information is written by switching the electric resistance – from high to low and back again. What we are trying to demonstrate are much more complex functions of memristors – that they behave similar to biological synapses," said Yury Matveyev, the corresponding author of the paper, and senior researcher of MIPT's Laboratory of Functional Materials and Devices for Nanoelectronics, commenting on the study.
Read more - http://phys.org/news/2016-04-physicists-electronic-synapses-neural-networks.html   
#neuroscience #brain #neurons #synapses

Brain Noise Found to Nurture Synapses

Full article at http://goo.gl/xczNW1.

A study has shown that a long-overlooked form of neuron-to-neuron communication called miniature neurotransmission plays an essential role in the development of synapses, the regions where nerve impulses are transmitted and received. The findings, made in fruit flies, raise the possibility that abnormalities in miniature neurotransmission may contribute to neurodevelopmental diseases. The findings, by researchers at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC), were published today in the online edition of the journal Neuron.

The research is in Neuron. (full open access)

Research: “Miniature Neurotransmission Regulates Drosophila Synaptic Structural Maturation” by Ben Jiwon Choi, Wendy L. Imlach, Wei Jiao, Verena Wolfram, Ying Wu, Mark Grbic, Carolina Cela, Richard A. Baines, Michael N. Nitabach, and Brian D. McCabe in Neuron. doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2014.03.012 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2014.03.012)

Image: A developing Drosophila synapse superimposed over electrophysiology recordings of minis. Credit Lab of Brian McCabe, PhD/ Columbia University Medical Center.

#neuroscience   #electrophysiology   #synapses  

Graphene flakes to calm synapses
(Nanowerk News) Innovative graphene technology to buffer the activity of synapses-- this is the idea behind a recently-published study in the journal ACS Nano ("raphene Oxide Nanosheets Reshape Synaptic Function in Cultured Brain Networks") coordinated by the International School for Advanced Studies in Trieste (SISSA) and the University of Trieste. In particular, the study showed how effective graphene oxide flakes are at interfering with excitatory synapses, an effect that could prove useful in new treatments for diseases like epilepsy.
Image : Neurons and graphene oxide in culture.   
Read more - http://www.nanowerk.com/nanotechnology-news/newsid=43353.php   
#neuroscience #brain #synapses #graphene #HumanBrain

Probing outside the synapse: Astrocyte-Neuron Regulation of excitatory signaling conference
As part of the American Society for Neurochemistry 2016 Conference, Abcam will be hosting a half day symposium and are inviting short talks from students and post docs. Grand Hyatt Denver, Denver, USA. March 19, 2016.
Meeting description
Glutamate, which is present in the vast majority of synapses in the brain, may be the most important yet least understood neurotransmitter in the human brain.  It is becoming apparent that glutamate signaling is a product of an elaborate network of release mechanisms, transporters, and receptors expressed by neurons and astrocytes.  However, a dearth of knowledge exists regarding the nature of neuronal-astrocytic interactions that regulate excitatory signaling in normal and diseased states.  In this session, our speakers will present novel findings illustrating diverse ways and means in which these cells interact in order to regulate excitatory signaling.
http://www.abcam.com/events/probing-outside-the-synapse-astrocyte-neuron-regulation-of-excitatory-signaling                             
#neuroscience #brain #emotions #Synapses #Mind #Cognition #LimbicSystem #Neurology #Neocortex #Plasticity #BrainConnectivity #Proprioception #Hippocampus #BrainDots #WordsCrush #BrainHealth #Memory #Research #Consciousness #Neuroplasticity #Health #Mind #Psychology #Learning #Scientists 

Curbing Synapse Loss in Alzheimer's Disease

Targetable immune pathway plays an early role in Alzheimer's disease models, before plaque accumulation.

The research is in Science. (full access paywall)

#synapses #alzheimers

High Fat Diets Prompt Immune Cells to Munch at Synapses

When a high-fat diet causes us to become obese, it also appears to prompt normally bustling immune cells in our brain to become sedentary and start consuming the connections between our neurons, scientists say.

The research is in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. (full access paywall)

#synapses #neuroscience #diet