Tag: synaptic plasticity
-
High-Speed AFM Unveils How Brain Enzyme Forms a Dodecameric Ring in Memory Formation
Groundbreaking Real-Time Imaging of a Brain Enzyme Researchers at the Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI) at Kanazawa University have achieved a milestone in neuroscience imaging. Using high-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM), they captured real-time videos of a key brain enzyme as it self-assembles into a dodecameric ring. The study, conducted in Kanazawa, Japan, sheds light…
-
Scientists Reveal Potential to Reverse Memory Loss in Aging Brains
Groundbreaking studies point to reversing memory loss Researchers are reporting promising advances in addressing memory decline that often accompanies aging. In two complementary studies, a team led by associate professor Timothy Jarome and his graduate students employed advanced gene-editing tools to target molecular changes linked to memory formation and retention. The work aims to understand…
-
Cryo-ET Uncovers Kiss-Shrink-Run: A Hybrid Mechanism for Synaptic Vesicle Exocytosis
Breaking the old dichotomy in neurotransmission For decades, neuroscientists debated whether synaptic vesicles released neurotransmitters through a fleeting “kiss-and-run” event or an irreversible “full collapse” into the presynaptic membrane. A pioneering study from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) now reveals a nuanced third act—one that reconciles two long-standing models by showing…
-
Improving brain resilience: Rab proteins and future treatments
Understanding the cellular logistics behind memory formation Memory formation is more than a simple spark of thought. It involves synaptic potentiation, where active connections between neurons strengthen through intricate structural changes. These changes require a precise, logistical operation inside the neuron to deliver the right materials to remodel synapses. Recent research shines a light on…
-
Improving Brain Resilience: Rab Proteins and Future Treatments
How Rab Proteins Orchestrate Synaptic Potentiation Memory formation hinges on synaptic potentiation—the strengthening of connections between neurons. This growth is driven by a tightly coordinated delivery system within neurons that supplies the building blocks essential for remodeling synapses. A large family of cellular switches, known as Rab proteins, governs the flow of these supplies, directing…