Mouse models
Cerebellar circuit may convert expected pain relief into real thing
The newly identified circuit taps into the brain’s opioid system to provide a top-down form of pain relief.
![](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/paincircuit-1200-1024x692.webp)
Cerebellar circuit may convert expected pain relief into real thing
The newly identified circuit taps into the brain’s opioid system to provide a top-down form of pain relief.
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.
Connectivity takes U-turn in people with rare autism-linked mutations
Patterns of brain connectivity shift during puberty in people with deletion of the 22q11.2 chromosomal region.
![Research image of brain activity](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/1200_connectivity-1024x683.png)
Connectivity takes U-turn in people with rare autism-linked mutations
Patterns of brain connectivity shift during puberty in people with deletion of the 22q11.2 chromosomal region.
Cocaine, morphine commandeer neurons normally activated by food, water in mice
Confirming a long-held hypothesis, repeated exposure to the drugs alters neurons in the nucleus accumbens, the brain’s reward center, and curbs an animal’s urge for sustenance.
![A diagram of green neurnons](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Green-neuron-art-1200-1024x692.webp)
Cocaine, morphine commandeer neurons normally activated by food, water in mice
Confirming a long-held hypothesis, repeated exposure to the drugs alters neurons in the nucleus accumbens, the brain’s reward center, and curbs an animal’s urge for sustenance.
‘It must be something I ate’ is hard-wired into the brain
Feeling sick reactivates “novel flavor” neurons, according to a new study in mice, and points to a dedicated circuit for learning to avoid unsafe food.
![Computer-generated illustration of disgusting green food.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/1200-transmitter-neuroscience-food-aversion-1024x692.webp)
‘It must be something I ate’ is hard-wired into the brain
Feeling sick reactivates “novel flavor” neurons, according to a new study in mice, and points to a dedicated circuit for learning to avoid unsafe food.
Microglial overreaction to atypical neurons may drive autism
In mice and organoids lacking a neuronal protein, microglia prune synapses to excess.
![Research image of microglia in mice.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1200-microglia-pruning-transmitter-neuroscience-1024x683.webp)
Microglial overreaction to atypical neurons may drive autism
In mice and organoids lacking a neuronal protein, microglia prune synapses to excess.
Alzheimer’s scientist to correct two papers because of data inconsistencies
Anonymous commenters raised concerns about the statistical methods that Soyon Hong and her colleagues used in their work.
![Red pencil leans on a stack of white paper](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Edit-papers-1200-1024x692.webp)
Alzheimer’s scientist to correct two papers because of data inconsistencies
Anonymous commenters raised concerns about the statistical methods that Soyon Hong and her colleagues used in their work.
Newly found hypothalamus circuits shape bullying behaviors in mice
Activity in the tiny brain region helps submissive rodents learn to avoid aggressors, and aggressive mice to curb their attacks, according to two recent studies.
![Photograph of an intimidating lab mouse.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/1200-transmitter-neuroscience-hypothalamus-circuits-bulyying-behaviors-1024x683.webp)
Newly found hypothalamus circuits shape bullying behaviors in mice
Activity in the tiny brain region helps submissive rodents learn to avoid aggressors, and aggressive mice to curb their attacks, according to two recent studies.
Synaptic protein’s shape-shifting skills propel plasticity
SYNGAP supports learning without tapping its eponymous “GAP” enzymatic activity, according to a new study.
Synaptic protein’s shape-shifting skills propel plasticity
SYNGAP supports learning without tapping its eponymous “GAP” enzymatic activity, according to a new study.
Monkey studies throw wrench into decade-old idea about movement’s effect on visual cortex
Movements that boost activity in the visual cortex of mice have the opposite or no effect in marmosets and macaques, prompting questions about whether mice are a suitable model for the primate visual system.
![Illustration of a yellow brain and a pink brain](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/1200-cortical-states-neuroscience-transmitter-1024x683.webp)
Monkey studies throw wrench into decade-old idea about movement’s effect on visual cortex
Movements that boost activity in the visual cortex of mice have the opposite or no effect in marmosets and macaques, prompting questions about whether mice are a suitable model for the primate visual system.
Explore more from The Transmitter
New connectomes fly beyond the brain
Researchers are mapping the neurons in Drosophila’s ventral nerve cord, where the central nervous system meets the rest of the body.
![Research image of neurons in the fly’s ventral nerve cord.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/lede-motormodules-1200-1024x692.webp)
New connectomes fly beyond the brain
Researchers are mapping the neurons in Drosophila’s ventral nerve cord, where the central nervous system meets the rest of the body.
Building an autism research registry: Q&A with Tony Charman
A purpose-built database of participants who have shared genomic and behavioral data could give clinical trials a boost, Charman says.
![Illustration of researchers talking to laypeople amidst strands of DNA.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1200_Charman-1024x687.webp)
Building an autism research registry: Q&A with Tony Charman
A purpose-built database of participants who have shared genomic and behavioral data could give clinical trials a boost, Charman says.
New ‘decoder’ tool translates functional neuroimaging terms across labs
The compendium of brain-parcellation atlases makes it possible to compare large-scale network data, which often involves different and overlapping network names.
![Research image of a variety of brain atlases.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Fig2B-1200-1024x692.webp)
New ‘decoder’ tool translates functional neuroimaging terms across labs
The compendium of brain-parcellation atlases makes it possible to compare large-scale network data, which often involves different and overlapping network names.