neuroscience

Neanderthal-human hybrid discovered; the neurobiology of fear behavior; and an insulin patch that responds to high glucose levels in mice

Scientists uncover the neurons in the mouse brain responsible for linking the sight of a looming object to scared behavior.

This helps the insects collect as much visual information as possible from the gently swaying flowers on which they dine.

Researchers link disease-associated mutations to excitatory and inhibitory signaling in the brain.

The brain contains lymphatic vessels similar to those found elsewhere in the body, a mouse study shows.

Reconstructing the past using ancient DNA

Meet some of the people featured in the June 2015 issue of The Scientist.

Using optogenetics, researchers excite selected neurons to reinstate a fear memory that had been blocked.

People with a congenital disorder that makes them unable to feel pain have mutations in a histone-modifying gene. 

Squid, cuttlefish, and octopuses possess vision machinery in their skin.

They aren't neurons, but in rats, glial cells in the brain called astrocytes (red) play a major role in repetitive motions like chewing and breathing.

Lab techs and other highly qualified employees are too often given short shrift by the biomedical research enterprise.

The study of mini “brains” in a dish, derived from patient cells, offers a novel approach for autism spectrum disorder research.

Researchers use chemicals to manipulate the behavior of mice.

The Genealogy of a Gene, On the Move, The Chimp and the River, and Domesticated

A study shows that the hippocampus selects which information to send, and where, during different behaviors.

Researchers probe the neural roots of the ear-ringing condition in a man undergoing brain surgery.

Peer review predicts successful projects; predicting cancer drug response; excising mtDNA mutations from mouse embryos; editing early human embryos

Deep-brain stimulation may effectively treat slow movement, tremor, and rigidity in Parkinson’s patients by reducing synchronicity of neural activity in the motor cortex.

Deciphering how a jumping spider sees the world and processes visual information may yield insights into long-standing robotics problems.