"The human brain is often described as the most complex network in existence, with billions of neurons exchanging signals across intricate pathways. Understanding how the brain's communication networks operate is key to discovering insights into cognition, behavior and neurological diseases. Recent research led by Feinberg investigators is revealing how different regions of the brain coordinate and process information, and how disruptions in these networks can impact health."
"Shedding Light on Neuronal Mechanisms Investigators led by D. James Surmeier, PhD, the Nathan Smith Davis Professor and chair of Neuroscience, have uncovered a new way in which neurons in the brain "forget" associations that help guide behavior and habits, according to a study published in Cell Reports. In addition to shedding light on basic brain mechanisms, the findings could also prove useful in treating Parkinson's disease, said Surmeier, who was senior author of the study."
The human brain contains billions of neurons forming complex communication networks that underlie cognition, behavior, language and disease. Network coordination and neuronal plasticity determine how different brain regions process information, adapt, and discard obsolete associations. New findings identify a nitric-oxide–triggered form of long-term synaptic depression in striatal spiny projection neurons that enables forgetting of learned associations and may influence habit formation. Disruptions in these dynamic network mechanisms can impair decision-making and contribute to neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease. Advances in mapping and analyzing brain network dynamics promise improved diagnostics and targeted therapeutic strategies.
Read at News Center
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]