Author: Julie
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Researchers at Université Laval identify a mechanism that leads to the death of neurons in Parkinson’s disease
It is known that neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s cause the gradual death of brain neurons. But what exactly are the mechanisms that go awry to cause degeneration of nerve cells? A team of researchers from Université Laval and the Quebec Mental Health Research Institute investigated the matter and show, in an article in Proceedings…
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McGill Researchers May Now Know Why You Need To Drink Right Before Bed
Have you ever noticed a tendency to drink some water or other liquid sustenance right before going to bed? It’s a common occurrence although the reason behind this action has not been well understood. This unfortunately has led to a rather large-scale debate regarding the potential health benefits and risks of having a swig before…
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Gaming camera could aid MS treatment
3D depth-sensing camera shown to measure walking difficulties A commonly used device found in living rooms around the world could be a cheap and effective means of evaluating the walking difficulties of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. The Microsoft Kinect is a 3D depth-sensing camera used in interactive video activities such as tennis and dancing. It…
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Journey to the end of the neuron
Study confirms the existence of a molecular transport mechanism involved in fragile X syndrome A team from the Centre de recherche de l’Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Québec– Université Laval has furthered our understanding of fragile X syndrome, the leading genetic cause of mental retardation in children. The article published by these researchers in…
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Brain’s biological clock stimulates thirst before sleep
Discovery could lead to ways to mitigate effects of jet lag and shift work The brain’s biological clock stimulates thirst in the hours before sleep, according to a study published in the journalNature by McGill University researchers. The finding — along with the discovery of the molecular process behind it — provides the first insight…
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UBC Researchers Discover A Rare Genetic Link May Lead To Multiple Sclerosis
Imagine losing the ability to control your nerve function. You may encounter numbness and weakness in the limbs. Your ability to speak could decline as well as your vision. Tics and tremors might take over certain parts of your body. You even are at risk for depression. These are just a few of the symptoms…
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Sick Kids Researchers Are Using A Systematic Approach To Understand How Neurons Arise
What convinces a stem cell to determine its fate? It’s one of the most persistent questions in modern biology. Research over the last four decades has revealed there is no easy answer. For example, in the brain, stem cells in the embryo produce all of the different cell types at precise times and amounts. If…
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UBC Researchers May Have Found How “Electrical Volume Control” Develops In The Brain
It’s an experience most of us have encountered at one time or another. We turn on the radio, stereo, television, or YouTube video and the volume is just too loud. Our reactions are almost immediate combining a mixture of frustration, helplessness, and a need to turn down the sound. Thankfully, we quickly can adjust the…
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High-speed connections
Researchers find a mechanism that allows the brain to reconfigure connections between neurons in mere minutes. A team from the Quebec Mental Health Institute – Université Laval has discovered a mechanism that allows the brain to rapidly reconfigure connections between its neurons. According to the researchers, whose findings were published in a recent issue of…
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Researchers find new role for cannabinoids in vision
Chemicals found to improve low-light vision of tadpoles by sensitizing retinal cells A multidisciplinary team including researchers from the Montreal Neurological Institute has improved our understanding of how cannabinoids, the active agent in marijuana, affect vision in vertebrates. Scientists used a variety of methods to test how tadpoles react to visual stimuli when they’ve been…