Brain Cell

Cells that help brain to measure time decoded

Washington: Scientists have found a population of neurons that help in measuring time, suggesting that there is no "central clock" in the brain to rely upon for all tasks involving timing. Researchers at the University of Minnesota's Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR) developed a task in which monkeys could only rely on their internal sense of the passage of time.

Their task design eliminated all external cues which could have served as "clocks." The monkeys were trained to move their eyes consistently at regular time intervals without any external cues or immediate expectation of reward. Researchers found that despite the lack of sensory information, the monkeys were remarkably precise and consistent in their timed behaviours.



This consistency could be explained by activity in a specific region of the brain called the lateral intra-parietal area (LIP). Interestingly, the researchers found that LIP activity during their task was different from activity in previous studies that had failed to eliminate external cues or expectation of reward....more    

Heavy drinking blocks long-term memory formation

Washington: Ever wondered why you end up missing some memories after a good night out? It's because your brain cells release steroids that block formation of long-term memories, scientists say. It's been believed that heavy drinking kills brains cells, which in turn causes memory losses. But, the new study found that isn't true. "Alcohol isn't damaging the cells in any way that we can detect," said study researcher Charles Zorumski...  

Culprit gene behind Alzheimer's identified

Toronto: There is cheering news for Alzheimer's patients and people with Down's syndrome as Canadian researchers have identified the gene that destroys brain cells in these diseases. According to researchers at the Vancouver-based University of British Columbia and the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, the identification of the gene responsible for the destruction of brain cells in Alzheimer's patients and people with Down's syndrome spells hope for patients. Progression of...  

Cause of schizophrenia found?

Washington: In what could be a possible cause of schizophrenia, scientists claim to have found a link between the condition and trapped brain cells that are unable to reach the cortex, the brain's outer part. A new study, led by University of New South Wales, has claimed that brain cells might become "stuck" in their journey during brain development to the outer "thinking" layer of the brain, which could be...  

Searching the net is an intelligent thing to do

Surfing keeps the brain engaged and can preserve brain health and thinking ability. ...  

Humpback whales smarter than you think

Humpback whales have a type of brain cell only humans have and are more intelligent than thought of, say researchers. ...