epilepsy

The ever-changing brain: Shining a light on synaptic plasticity

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Synapses – specialized structures in neurons – allow these nerve cells to communicate with one another. In the synapse, one neuron emits chemical messengers called neurotransmitters, and an apposed neuron receives them using tiny structures called receptors. A specific type of receptor, the AMPA receptor, plays a crucial role in learning and memory processes. However, … Read more The ever-changing brain: Shining a light on synaptic plasticity

The neuroscience of autism: New clues for how condition begins

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UNC School of Medicine scientists unveiled how a particular gene helps organize the scaffolding of brain cells called radial progenitors necessary for the orderly formation of the brain. Previous studies have shown that this gene is mutated in some people with autism. The discovery, published in Neuron, illuminates the molecular details of a key process in … Read more The neuroscience of autism: New clues for how condition begins