Possible approach for the treatment of neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases discovered

01-Nov-2024 - In collaboration with King's College London, a team of researchers at the Mainz University Medical Center has succeeded in converting non-neuronal cells directly in the brain into nerve cells with specific functional properties. The insights into cellular reprogramming in the brain gained in the ...

Plasticisers impair normal brain function in vertebrates

"This is a factor that must be taken into account in future risk assessments of these substances"

25-Oct-2024 - Researchers at the University of Bayreuth have discovered that the plasticisers DEHP and DINP have negative effects on normal brain function in vertebrates. These plasticisers are used in products such as PVC, paints, and cosmetics. The researchers reported their findings in the journal ...

A further step towards decoding smell

Researchers elucidate the role of individual brain neurons in human odor perception

14-Oct-2024 - We often only realize how important our sense of smell is when it is no longer there: food hardly tastes good, or we no longer react to dangers such as the smell of smoke. Researchers at the University Hospital Bonn (UKB), the University of Bonn and the University of Aachen have investigated the ...

How the brain processes the number zero

27-Sep-2024 - Despite its importance for mathematics, the neuronal basis of the number zero in the human brain was previously unknown. Researchers from the University Hospital Bonn (UKB), the University of Bonn and the University of Tübingen have now discovered that individual nerve cells in the medial ...

Epigenetic changes reprogram astrocytes into brain stem cells

Discovery shows that astrocytes could potentially be used in regenerative medicine to replace damaged nerve cells

09-Sep-2024 - Resting brain stem cells hardly differ from normal astrocytes, which support the nerve cells in the brain. How can almost identical cells perform such different functions? The key lies in the methylation of their genetic material, which gives these special astrocytes stem cell properties. ...

How star-shaped cells increase flexible learning

Researchers solve the hidden mystery of the role of astrocytes in learning processes and memory in the brain

19-Jul-2024 - Star-shaped glial cells, so-called astrocytes, are more than just a supporting cell of the brain. They are actively involved in learning processes and interact with the nerve cells. But what exactly is it that astrocytes do? Researchers at the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) and the University of ...

Key mechanisms identified for the regeneration of neurons

Researchers have shown how glial cells are reprogrammed into neurons via epigenetic modifications

04-Jul-2024 - Neurological disorders, such as trauma, stroke, epilepsy, and various neurodegenerative diseases, often lead to the permanent loss of neurons, causing significant impairments in brain function. Current treatment options are limited, primarily due to the challenge of replacing lost neurons. Direct ...

Riddle of proteins in the brain solved

Erin Schuman awarded the Körber European Science Prize, worth one million euros

01-Jul-2024 - The American neurobiologist Erin Schuman is a pioneer in neurobiology. Schuman’s work has revolutionised our understanding of how individual brain cells – so called neurons – work. She discovered that and how proteins, as critical building blocks of the cells, are locally produced at the ...

New compound from blessed thistle promotes functional nerve regeneration

Researchers have found a new use for Cnicin

24-Apr-2024 - Blessed thistle (Cnicus benedictus) is a plant in the family Asteraceae and also grows in our climate. For centuries, it has been used as a medicinal herb as an extract or tea, e.g. to aid the digestive system. Researchers at the Center for Pharmacology of University Hospital Cologne and at the ...

A brain circuit that spoils your appetite

Specialized nerve cells in the brain inhibit food intake during nausea

04-Apr-2024 - Satiety, nausea or anxiety can all lead to a loss of appetite. Delaying eating can be a healthy move by the body to prevent further damage and to gain time for regenerating. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence now identified the circuit in the brain that prevents ...