A marathon runner approaches the finish line and suddenly collapses from exhaustion and passes out just yards from victory. Although the scene may sound familiar, what we probably ignore is that it is not due to wasting of the muscles, which consume their sugar reserves (glycogen), but to a mechanism in the brain that stops excess activity when we overdo it. This is known as "central fatigue", a type of extreme fatigue that affects the brain and nervous system.
In addition to regulating blood sugar levels, insulin plays a critical role in modulating the activity of neurons involved in learning and memory, according to a new work published in the journal Neuron. "People often think that insulin regulation disorders simply cause diabetes, but many cognitive and behavioral defects, such as depression or dementia, are also associated with metabolic syndromes," says Yun Zhang, a biologist at Harvard University. and responsible for the study.
The brain of fetuses between 28 and 32 weeks of gestation is already prepared to establish the neural functions responsible for deciphering human speech, as stated in a study published today in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS ).
For the first time, researchers have seen the thought "swim" inside the brain of a live fish. The new technology used could be a powerful tool for perception studies, according to the authors in the journal Current Biology.
"I feel good" is the message sent by neurons that detect caresses when an individual is gently touched or massaged on the skin. An American study has just identified that there is a type of neurons, without myelin and highly branched, specialized in detecting caresses in mice. The research, which makes the cover of the journal Nature today, reveals that these cells generate a feeling of well-being when activated.
When the activity of the transcription factor CREB increases in the brain, in the brain what scientists call 'long-term potentiation' increases, a phenomenon related to memory and the formation of memories. These are the results of a study published in the Journal of Neuroscience.
We do not visually perceive the people around us objectively. Researchers at the University of Southern California have shown that social factors have a direct effect on how we process reality. Whether one person likes or dislikes another influences how the brain processes their movements, even if they are as simple as reaching for a cup of coffee.
Danni Büchner is invited to Sam Dylan's Halloween party. But the "Goodbye Germany" emigrant has no desire for many other party guests. And find clear words.
