Cellular neuroscience
Recent articles
Supersized version of Alzheimer’s protein avoids clumping in brain
“Big tau” may explain why some brain regions, such as the cerebellum and brainstem, are largely spared from neurodegeneration, even though tau is expressed throughout the nervous system.
![Research image of tau proteins in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/tauPET-landscape-1200-1024x692.webp)
Supersized version of Alzheimer’s protein avoids clumping in brain
“Big tau” may explain why some brain regions, such as the cerebellum and brainstem, are largely spared from neurodegeneration, even though tau is expressed throughout the nervous system.
Is it time to worry about brain chimeras?
Brains made of neurons from two species raise new concerns.
![Research image of a brain chimera containing neurons from rats and mice.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Fig5F-black-1200-1024x692.webp)
Is it time to worry about brain chimeras?
Brains made of neurons from two species raise new concerns.
Widely used calcium imaging protocol can lead to spurious results, new paper cautions
The technique, which measures calcium currents as a proxy for neuronal firing, sometimes reports unusual and potentially misleading waves of activity in the hippocampus.
Widely used calcium imaging protocol can lead to spurious results, new paper cautions
The technique, which measures calcium currents as a proxy for neuronal firing, sometimes reports unusual and potentially misleading waves of activity in the hippocampus.
Knowledge graphs can help make sense of the flood of cell-type data
These tools, widely used in the technology industry, could provide a foundation for the study of brain circuits.
![-A playful “cellular map” features top-down and bottom-up views of the human brain arranged side-by-side as if they were the earth’s two hemispheres in an old-fashioned map of the world. The brains are colored to suggest land masses and bodies of water.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Cell-Taxonomy-1200-1024x692.webp)
Knowledge graphs can help make sense of the flood of cell-type data
These tools, widely used in the technology industry, could provide a foundation for the study of brain circuits.
Rat neurons thrive in a mouse brain world, testing ‘nature versus nurture’
Neurons from the two rodents can wire up together to form functional circuits—all while maintaining some species-specific properties, two new studies show.
![](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Fig6A-1200-1024x692.webp)
Rat neurons thrive in a mouse brain world, testing ‘nature versus nurture’
Neurons from the two rodents can wire up together to form functional circuits—all while maintaining some species-specific properties, two new studies show.
New genetic tools usher amphibian neuroscience research into modern age
Harmless viruses that ferry genes into the brain cells of rodents and monkeys also work in frogs, newts and axolotls, according to two new preprints.
![A flourescent blue and green brain picture](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1200-transmitter-neuroscience-amphibians-1024x683.webp)
New genetic tools usher amphibian neuroscience research into modern age
Harmless viruses that ferry genes into the brain cells of rodents and monkeys also work in frogs, newts and axolotls, according to two new preprints.
Where do cell states end and cell types begin?
High-throughput transcriptomics offers powerful new methods for defining different types of brain cells. But we need to think more explicitly about how we use these data to distinguish a cell’s permanent identity from its transient states.
![Illustration of neurons against a blue background.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Neurons-1200-1024x692.webp)
Where do cell states end and cell types begin?
High-throughput transcriptomics offers powerful new methods for defining different types of brain cells. But we need to think more explicitly about how we use these data to distinguish a cell’s permanent identity from its transient states.
Building a brain: How does it generate its exquisite diversity of cells?
High-throughput technologies have revealed new insights into how the brain develops. But a truly comprehensive map of neurodevelopment requires further advances.
![An illustration of a gold circle and wavy blue plants.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/CellTypes-1200-1024x692.webp)
Building a brain: How does it generate its exquisite diversity of cells?
High-throughput technologies have revealed new insights into how the brain develops. But a truly comprehensive map of neurodevelopment requires further advances.
Individual neurons tune to complex speech sounds and cues
Neuropixels arrays implanted in people reveal nuances of speech perception and production that confirm results from brain-surface recordings and can even predict what someone is about to say.
![Human head drawn in profile, brain area is red and connected to words spelled out in connected lines with nodes.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Speech-sound-neurons-1200-1024x692.webp)
Individual neurons tune to complex speech sounds and cues
Neuropixels arrays implanted in people reveal nuances of speech perception and production that confirm results from brain-surface recordings and can even predict what someone is about to say.
In hot water: Climate change tests limits of neuronal resilience in crabs
Warming seas disrupt the function of neurons — and could seed permanent changes in marine species, according to studies of a circuit that controls digestion in crustaceans.
![A photograph of a crab](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/1200-crabs-heat-warming-water-transmitter-neuroscience-1024x683.webp)
In hot water: Climate change tests limits of neuronal resilience in crabs
Warming seas disrupt the function of neurons — and could seed permanent changes in marine species, according to studies of a circuit that controls digestion in crustaceans.
Explore more from The Transmitter
Cell population in brainstem coordinates cough, new study shows
The work also adds to a growing body of evidence showing that mice, and their genetic toolbox, can be used to study cough.
![](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1200_coughingmice-1024x720.webp)
Cell population in brainstem coordinates cough, new study shows
The work also adds to a growing body of evidence showing that mice, and their genetic toolbox, can be used to study cough.
In updated U.S. autism bill, Congress calls for funding boost, expanded scope
The current Autism CARES Act sunsets in late September.
![Capitol building](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/capitolhill-1200-1024x692.webp)
In updated U.S. autism bill, Congress calls for funding boost, expanded scope
The current Autism CARES Act sunsets in late September.
Ketamine targets lateral habenula, setting off cascade of antidepressant effects
The drug’s affinity for overactive cells in the “anti-reward” region may help explain its rapid and long-lasting results.
![Illustration of ketamine blocking open ion channels in active NMDA receptors, quieting the cells and disrupting downstream signaling involved in depression.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1200-ketamine-receptor-transmitter-neuroscience-1024x683.webp)
Ketamine targets lateral habenula, setting off cascade of antidepressant effects
The drug’s affinity for overactive cells in the “anti-reward” region may help explain its rapid and long-lasting results.