Author: Julie
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McGill Researchers May Have Discovered the Neurological Basis For An Eye-Catching Mystery
People usually find it easier to see things when they are big and bright, but there are occasionally exceptions. One example concerns moving objects: when they are small, we can identify their direction of motion easily. But this becomes much more difficult for larger objects. This phenomenon is known as spatial suppression http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v424/n6946/full/nature01800.html.
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Brain cells that aid appetite control identified
Discovery opens door to development of new drugs to control weight gain and obesity It’s rare for scientists to get what they describe as “clean” results without spending a lot of time repeating the same experiment over and over again. But when researchers saw the mice they were working with doubling their weight within a…
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Chemical in marijuana shows promise in treating schizophrenia
According to new research at Western University, marijuana is the ultimate contradiction; at least when it comes to schizophrenia. This first-of-its-kind study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, demonstrates that a chemical found in marijuana called cannabidiol, or CBD, affects the brain in a way that makes it an ideal treatment option for schizophrenia. This…
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A Novel Treatment May Help Reduce the Progression of Alzheimer’s Disease
Of all the neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) stands as the most common worldwide. While the onset is complex in nature, a hallmark sign of illness is the accumulation of a particular peptide in the brain, known as amyloid beta (Aβ) (http://www.jci.org/articles/view/25100). When present, the molecule can aggregate to form plaques and also interact with…
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Mechanism that reduces effect of cocaine on brain discovered
Finding offers hope for development of a new approach to prevent drug use relapses A type of brain cell known as microglia plays a key role in reducing the effects of cocaine in the brain, according to a major study by a team from the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC).
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A neuroscientist retires after 50 years – a profile of Leo Renaud
by Sarah Ferguson Sheets of paper in organized stacks cover Dr. Leo Renaud’s desk. The hallway outside his office at the Civic campus of The Ottawa Hospital is quiet. The late afternoon sunlight shines through the office window, illuminating flecks of dust in the air. “Is the sun in your eyes?” Renaud asks. “Don’t be…
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Rapid eye movement sleep: keystone of memory formation
For decades, scientists have fiercely debated whether rapid eye movement (REM) sleep – the phase where dreams appear – is directly involved in memory formation. Now, a study published in Science by researchers at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute (McGill University) and the University of Bern provides evidence that REM sleep does, indeed, play…
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Mechanisms underlying efficient coding of natural stimuli revealed
Maurice Chacron and his team at McGill University have discovered that sensory neurons can efficiently encode stimuli by ensuring that the neuron’s tuning function is matched to the statistics of the input found in the organism’s natural environment.
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What makes the brain tick so fast?
New study sheds light on the workings of brain neurotransmitter receptors Surprisingly complex interactions between neurotransmitter receptors and other key proteins help explain the brain’s ability to process information with lightning speed, according to a new study. Scientists at McGill University, working with collaborators at the universities of Oxford and Liverpool, combined experimental techniques to…
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Location may be key to effectively controlling pain
Targeting the pain receptor at the cell’s nucleus has a major effect on its ability to transmit pain signals. In real estate, location is key. It now seems the same concept holds true when it comes to stopping pain. New research published in Nature Communications by a team of researchers led by McGill University’s Director of Anesthesia Research…