Researchers identify brain protein for synapse development

Wednesday 28th of July 2010 09:36:13 AM
Posted by admin / Under Chemical Synapse

"A new study from UC Davis Health System identifies for the first time a brain protein called SynDIG1 that plays a critical role in creating and sustaining synapses, the complex chemical signaling system responsible for communication between neurons. The research, published in the Jan.14 issue of the ..."Slowly,so slowly the jig-saw comes together.

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Brain Cells Chat, Even Without a Synapse

Wednesday 28th of July 2010 09:36:13 AM
Posted by admin / Under Chemical Synapse

Remember the long, stringy neurons that make up your nervous system? These cells communicate by sending a chemical message across the small gap between them, called a synapse. New research shows that certain brain cells bypass the synapse altogether. Instead, they communicate by spraying a cloud of neurotransmitters into the spaces between cells.

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Brain Cells Chat, Even Without a Synapse

Wednesday 28th of July 2010 09:36:13 AM
Posted by admin / Under Chemical Synapse

You probably learned that these cells communicate by sending a chemical message across the small gap between them, called a synapse. Still true, but new research shows that certain brain cells bypass the synapse altogether. Instead, they communicate by spraying a cloud of neurotransmitters into the spaces between cells, blanketing nearby neurons.

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Memories may be stored on your DNA

Wednesday 28th of July 2010 09:36:13 AM
Posted by admin / Under Chemical Synapse

Remember your first kiss? Experiments in mice suggest that patterns of chemical "caps" on our DNA may be responsible for preserving such memories. To remember a particular event, a specific sequence of neurons must fire at just the right time. For this to happen, neurons must be connected in a certain way by chemical junctions called synapses.

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BPA may interfere with learning, remembering

Wednesday 28th of July 2010 09:36:13 AM
Posted by admin / Under Chemical Synapse

Bisphenol A, found in hard plastic containers, may interfere with how we learn and remember, researchers at the University of Guelph have discovered. Researchers exposed African Green monkeys to low levels of the chemical for a month. They found that even low doses of BPA slow down the synapses in the brain.

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Scientist claims intelligence linked to synapse composition

Wednesday 28th of July 2010 09:36:13 AM
Posted by admin / Under Chemical Synapse

Scientist claims intelligence and personality are linked to chemical make-up of synapses, not number of neurons as once thought

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