Few substances in the pharmacological world ignite as much fascination and controversy as DMT. It has been called "the spirit molecule," a gateway to other dimensions, and a naturally occurring chemical that the brain may produce on its own. But... Continue Reading →
A newly engineered protein called iGluSnFR4 lets researchers watch glutamate — the brain's main chemical messenger — arrive at individual synapses in real time. It may change everything we know about how neurons decide to fire.
A new study reveals that the brain cells long dismissed as mere "support staff" — astrocytes — are actually key players in telling you when to stop eating. The discovery could reshape how we treat obesity.
You've probably heard that Alzheimer's involves sticky protein clumps forming in the brain. But here's what scientists have never been able to do, until now: watch it happen in real time. A team at Oregon State University, led by chemistry... Continue Reading →
A landmark paper published in The Lancet Psychiatry – the largest-ever review of the safety and efficacy of cannabinoids across a range of mental health conditions – found no evidence that medicinal cannabis is effective in treating anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The study comes... Continue Reading →
A new paper in Molecular Biology and Evolution, published by Oxford University Press, finds that the relatively high rate of Autism-spectrum disorders in humans is likely due to how humans evolved in the past. About one in 31 (3.2%) children in the... Continue Reading →
Flavoured drinks without sugar can be perceived as sweet – and now researchers know why. A new study from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, published in the journal Nature Communications, reveals that the brain interprets certain aromas as taste. When we eat... Continue Reading →
Stanford Medicine scientists investigating the neurological basis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have found that hyperactivity in a specific brain region could drive behaviors commonly associated with the disorder. Using the Cntnap2 knockout mouse model, the researchers, led by John Huguenard, PhD,... Continue Reading →
Microgravity is known to alter the muscles, bones, the immune system and cognition, but little is known about its specific impact on the brain. To discover how brain cells respond to microgravity, Scripps Research scientists, in collaboration with the New... Continue Reading →
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