April 16, 2017 at 00:42New to Neurobiology: Mysterious Giant Neurons, Laugh Neurobiology and LSD Potential
- Transfer
Let's start with the news from everyone's favorite field of psychedelic research. Scientists believe that they were able to decipher the secret of the power of LSD . This substance can change your consciousness for up to 18 hours, unlike, for example, DMT ( dimethyltryptamine), another powerful enough psychedelic substance that can turn off the brain for only 15 minutes. To understand the background, the researchers decided to analyze the behavior of LSD at the molecular level. First, they waited for the LSD molecule to connect to the serotonin receptor of the brain, and then they froze it in the form of a crystal. After that, they built a three-dimensional image of the structure using x-rays. It was there that they saw something unusual: typical drugs (and other molecules) enter and leave receptors in much the same way that cars enter and leave a garage. However, when LSD connected to the receptor, it was covered with one part of it like a lid. This lid held the molecule inside the receptor, so it was able to work on psychedelic sensations without interruption. Protein receptors constantly fidget around her, so, in the end, this lid opens and releases the molecule. When scientists created a mutated receptor with a lid that opened much easier, they saw how LSD connected and disconnected much faster, and such a short-term connection caused other changes in the signals in the neuron. Psychedelics have promising potential for treating anxiety, depression, and addictions, so unraveling the way LSD works can help us fix them so that we get all the positive effects, and not send people to and such a short-term connection caused other changes in the signals in the neuron. Psychedelics have promising potential for treating anxiety, depression, and addictions, so unraveling the way LSD works can help us fix them so that we get all the positive effects, and not send people to and such a short-term connection caused other changes in the signals in the neuron. Psychedelics have promising potential for treating anxiety, depression, and addictions, so unraveling the way LSD works can help us fix them so that we get all the positive effects, and not send people tosky with diamonds , and develop improved medicines and fix existing ones.
The LSD molecule is linked to the receptor. Orange stick in the center - holding its “cover”
To other news. Scientists have recently discovered something unusual in the brain. Like ivy wrapping around a tree, a giant neuron hugged the brain of a mouse . It connected to almost all areas in both hemispheres, and resembled an electric network that supplies electricity to the city. Moreover, two more giant neurons, actively branching in the brain, originated in the same area as the first.
They started from a site called the fence", or" claustrum "- a thin sheet of cells, and one of the sites with the largest number of connections in the brain. It helps us use cognitive functions such as long-term planning. It has already been shown that claustrum is somehow connected with consciousness (stimulation of it with electricity led to a sharp turn on and off of consciousness , and its damage correlated with the duration of loss of consciousness) One of the authors of this work previously suggested that the claustrum works as a conductor in an orchestra, combining all internal and external sensations into a complex perception. If so, then these giant neurons can be considered evidence of the role that the claustrum plays in the mind. Researchers plan to continue marking up neurons coming from the claustrum to see if they all extend to the entire brain, or whether they are different in different areas. And, although it was very interesting to find neurons that may serve as a powerful switch for conscious behavior, it is worth holding horses and not creating a sensation like “FOUND THE LOCATION OF CONSCIOUSNESS CONVINCED !! 1”. It will take a lot of time before these discoveries can be transferred to people, and to decipher the mechanism behind such a miracle as our consciousness.
Giant neurons. Blue is the largest of them
To less existential news. It was discovered how exactly good comedians differ from your drunk uncle, telling jokes about the Chukchi (and me, writing this post). Researchers compared experienced comedians-improvisers to beginners to see where creativity related to humor is contained in the brain. To do this, the researchers scanned the subjects while they came up with funny signatures for the cartoons from New Yorker. It was found that in this process two parts of the brain are active - the median prefrontal cortex(SEC) and areas of temporary associative memory. But the level of their activation depended on the comedian’s experience. Experienced pranksters activated the area of associative memory much more involved in the work of memory, semantic knowledge, combining information into complex contextual associations, and recognizing language and visible objects. The newcomers relied more on the SEC, the area responsible for decision making and planning. Experience seemed to allow jokers to let go of control and allow free and spontaneous associations to behave, rather than trying to give a joke with effort. The rating of jokes was also the higher, the more activated a piece of memory. I tried to come up with a final joke, but my temporary associative memory failed me.
And finally, the futuristic news. Scientists managed to grow a brain from shed skin! Nearly. In fact, they turned skin cells into nerve stem cells from which neurons could grow. And, unlike previous similar experiments, all this was done without genetic manipulation. This is important because it means that this technology can help fight neurodegenerative diseases (like, “take a little skin and replace all the dead cells due to Parkinson’s cells”), and that we can now study genetic diseases of the nervous system in vitro - skin cells that turn into neurons will carry the same genetic mutation, which leads to the disease, so you don’t have to take real neurons from a person.
The LSD molecule is linked to the receptor. Orange stick in the center - holding its “cover”
To other news. Scientists have recently discovered something unusual in the brain. Like ivy wrapping around a tree, a giant neuron hugged the brain of a mouse . It connected to almost all areas in both hemispheres, and resembled an electric network that supplies electricity to the city. Moreover, two more giant neurons, actively branching in the brain, originated in the same area as the first.
They started from a site called the fence", or" claustrum "- a thin sheet of cells, and one of the sites with the largest number of connections in the brain. It helps us use cognitive functions such as long-term planning. It has already been shown that claustrum is somehow connected with consciousness (stimulation of it with electricity led to a sharp turn on and off of consciousness , and its damage correlated with the duration of loss of consciousness) One of the authors of this work previously suggested that the claustrum works as a conductor in an orchestra, combining all internal and external sensations into a complex perception. If so, then these giant neurons can be considered evidence of the role that the claustrum plays in the mind. Researchers plan to continue marking up neurons coming from the claustrum to see if they all extend to the entire brain, or whether they are different in different areas. And, although it was very interesting to find neurons that may serve as a powerful switch for conscious behavior, it is worth holding horses and not creating a sensation like “FOUND THE LOCATION OF CONSCIOUSNESS CONVINCED !! 1”. It will take a lot of time before these discoveries can be transferred to people, and to decipher the mechanism behind such a miracle as our consciousness.
Giant neurons. Blue is the largest of them
To less existential news. It was discovered how exactly good comedians differ from your drunk uncle, telling jokes about the Chukchi (and me, writing this post). Researchers compared experienced comedians-improvisers to beginners to see where creativity related to humor is contained in the brain. To do this, the researchers scanned the subjects while they came up with funny signatures for the cartoons from New Yorker. It was found that in this process two parts of the brain are active - the median prefrontal cortex(SEC) and areas of temporary associative memory. But the level of their activation depended on the comedian’s experience. Experienced pranksters activated the area of associative memory much more involved in the work of memory, semantic knowledge, combining information into complex contextual associations, and recognizing language and visible objects. The newcomers relied more on the SEC, the area responsible for decision making and planning. Experience seemed to allow jokers to let go of control and allow free and spontaneous associations to behave, rather than trying to give a joke with effort. The rating of jokes was also the higher, the more activated a piece of memory. I tried to come up with a final joke, but my temporary associative memory failed me.
And finally, the futuristic news. Scientists managed to grow a brain from shed skin! Nearly. In fact, they turned skin cells into nerve stem cells from which neurons could grow. And, unlike previous similar experiments, all this was done without genetic manipulation. This is important because it means that this technology can help fight neurodegenerative diseases (like, “take a little skin and replace all the dead cells due to Parkinson’s cells”), and that we can now study genetic diseases of the nervous system in vitro - skin cells that turn into neurons will carry the same genetic mutation, which leads to the disease, so you don’t have to take real neurons from a person.