neurons

Surprise! Complex Decision Making Found in Predatory Worms With Just 302 Neurons

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As scientists continue to discover more about the brain and how it works, it can help to know just how much brain matter is required to perform certain functions – and to be able to make complex decisions, it turns out just 302 neurons may be required.   That’s based on a new study looking … Read more

Brain cells: Special neurons may signal when to start new memories

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Recordings from electrodes in people’s brains reveal that certain neurons in the hippocampus show a burst of activity to mark the boundary between different events Mind 7 March 2022 , updated 7 March 2022 By Clare Wilson Illustration of neurons in the hippocampus KATERYNA KON/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY A newly discovered kind of brain cell involved … Read more

There are neurons in the brain that only seem to respond to singing

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Electrical recordings from the auditory cortex of 15 people identified brain cells that specifically respond when we listen to singing Mind 22 February 2022 By Jason Arunn Murugesu A woman listens to music through headphones DEEPOL by plainpicture/Simona Pillola Humans may have neurons whose main job is to process singing. Scientists have previously found neurons … Read more

Human brain: We may not be able to grow new neurons after we enter adulthood

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Several recent studies have led to the suggestion that humans can grow new neurons in some parts of the brain as adults, but the idea is being questioned after a close look at RNA in brain cells Mind 16 February 2022 By Jason Arunn Murugesu Conceptual illustration of a neuron Shutterstock/Rost9 Adults may be unable … Read more

Chronic pain: Map of pain neurons may lead to more effective treatments

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An analysis of gene activity in pain neurons could help identify the most promising drug targets and reveal how pain pathways differ between men and women Health 16 February 2022 By Jason Arunn Murugesu A dorsal root ganglion, a cluster of nerve cell bodies, seen under a microscope JOSE CALVO/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY A map of … Read more

How The Venom of The King Baboon Spider Could Help Us Better Understand Chronic Pain

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If you ever come across a king baboon spider (Pelinobius muticus), which lives primarily in Tanzania and Kenya, keep your distance: Its bite and the associated venom aren’t fatal but do produce a lot of pain and itchiness that can last for days.   Scientists think they have worked out why the spider’s venom is … Read more

Pavlovian Experiments on Locusts Provide New Clues on How Smell Works in The Brain

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From the fragrance of brewing coffee to the smell of rain soaking the soil, distinguishing scents is one of the reasons that having a sense of smell is wonderful. But how smells such as coffee can be understood by our brain, no matter the season, location, or time is a complex question to answer. There’s … Read more

The Brain’s Secrets May Be Hidden in Its Folds And Wrinkles. How Are They Made?

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The human brain has been called the most complex object in the known universe. And with good reason: It has around 86 billion neurons and several hundred thousand miles of axon fibers connecting them.   Unsurprisingly, the process of brain folding that results in the brain’s characteristic bumps and grooves is also highly complex. Despite … Read more