Category: General Neuroscience

2023-24, 2023-24, Brain, Cellular and Molecular Science, Degenerative Disease, General Neuroscience, Molecular Biology, Neurology, Neuroscience, Year

Mature Oligodendrocytes Demonstrate Delayed Cell Death by Alternate Mechanism

By Vignesh Subramanian, Class of 2024 Figure 1: A myelinating oligodendrocyte in a murine brain.  Oligodendrocytes are specialized glial cells in the central nervous system primarily responsible for myelination, the process of ensheathing the axons of neurons in a lipid-rich membrane known as myelin, which insulates the nerve fibers and speeds up the transmission of the action potentials they conduct. Oligodendrocytes are the products of … Continue reading Mature Oligodendrocytes Demonstrate Delayed Cell Death by Alternate Mechanism

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2023-24, 2023-24, Brain, Cognition, General Neuroscience, General Psychology, Neuroscience, Psychology, Year

Childhood Maltreatment as a Predictor of Neural Activity During Postpartum

Marie Collison, Class of ‘25 Individuals who have experienced childhood maltreatment (CM) in their past have a greater risk of exhibiting behaviors of maltreatment towards their own children. As such, it is important to understand how mothers may respond to their infant cues in context with their past experiences, especially during the often tumultuous postpartum (after-birth) period. Prior research has established that brain responses in … Continue reading Childhood Maltreatment as a Predictor of Neural Activity During Postpartum

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2023-24, Brain, Cognition, Depression, General Neuroscience, General Psychology, Neuroscience, Psychology, Uncategorized, Year

Understanding SSRI Withdrawal: Insights Into the Complex Journey

By: Marie Collison, Class of ‘25 Depression is a very common and impairing condition, often resulting in costly care. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly prescribed as a part of treatment; however, 30–50% of individuals who are prescribed antidepressants do not take them long-term. There are many reasons why a patient may decide to stop taking their medication, such as experiencing negative side effects … Continue reading Understanding SSRI Withdrawal: Insights Into the Complex Journey

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2023-24, Brain, Chemistry, Degenerative Disease, Disease, General Neuroscience, Health and Medicine

Uncovering a Novel Biomarker For The Identification of Parkinson’s-Related Diseases

Author: Sean Krivitsky, Class of 2026 Parkinson’s disease is a severe neurodegenerative disorder most commonly occurring in late adulthood. It is primarily characterized by motor dysfunctions such as uncontrollable tremors and stiffness. Since there is no conclusive test for diagnosis of the disorder, neurologists rely on a comprehensive evaluation system, combining symptoms and physical assessments to gauge the likelihood that an individual has Parkinson’s. A … Continue reading Uncovering a Novel Biomarker For The Identification of Parkinson’s-Related Diseases

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Biology, Cellular and Molecular Science, Degenerative Disease, discovery, General Neuroscience, Health and Medicine, Neuroscience

Inhibition of Hydrolytic Enzyme May Protect Against Manifestation of AD-Linked Phenotypes

Author: Vignesh Subramanian, Class of 2024 Figure 1: Barnes maze tests were performed to assess the spatial reference memory of the knock-in AD mouse models. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease characterized by significant memory loss and cognitive decline that worsen with age. While the disease’s long-established hallmarks include the aggregation of two misfolded proteins known as beta-amyloid and phosphorylated tau, recent research … Continue reading Inhibition of Hydrolytic Enzyme May Protect Against Manifestation of AD-Linked Phenotypes

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Biology, Brain, General Neuroscience, Health and Medicine

Neuroprotective Therapies Capable of Ameliorating Ischemic Injury in Post-Thrombectomy Care

Vignesh Subramanian, Class of 2024 Figure 1: A thrombectomy is a surgical procedure aimed at removing blood clots lodged in an artery of the brain. A stroke is a medical emergency in which blood flow to the brain is disrupted. Strokes may be ischemic (lacking blood supply to brain tissue due to a blocked artery) or hemorrhagic (involving bleeding into the brain tissue due to … Continue reading Neuroprotective Therapies Capable of Ameliorating Ischemic Injury in Post-Thrombectomy Care

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2023-24, Cellular and Molecular Science, General Neuroscience, Genetics, Neurology, Neuroscience

Uncovering a Key Mechanism of Rett Syndrome Pathology

Author: Sean Krivitsky, Class of 2026 Rett syndrome (RTT) is a severe neurological disorder found primarily in females that causes impairment in essential functions including breathing, eating, and walking abilities. The disorder is characterized by slowed brain growth, which can lead to various mental and physical disabilities. Key markers and causes of RTT are mutations on a gene called MECP2. MECP2 is an X-linked gene … Continue reading Uncovering a Key Mechanism of Rett Syndrome Pathology

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2023-24, Depression, General Neuroscience, mental health, Psychology

Orbitofrontal Cortex Studies May Pave the Way to Treating Social Anhedonia

Author: Kimberly Johnston, Class of 2026 Social anhedonia is a psychological condition characterized by a diminished ability to experience pleasure from social interactions and activities. It is associated with greater symptom severity and poorer response to treatment in individuals with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). In individuals with MDD and social anhedonia, abnormalities in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) may hinder the brain’s ability to properly respond … Continue reading Orbitofrontal Cortex Studies May Pave the Way to Treating Social Anhedonia

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2023-24, Brain, mental health, Psychiatry

Decoding Schizophrenia: Potential Mechanisms of the Schizophrenic Brain Could Lead to Novel Treatments

Author: Kimberly Johnston, Class of 2026 Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a mental disorder characterized by severe impairments in working memory (WM), a type of short-term memory responsible for temporarily storing and manipulating information needed to perform tasks, solve problems, and make decisions. A key region of the brain involved in this process is the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), which is active during internal thinking and deactivated … Continue reading Decoding Schizophrenia: Potential Mechanisms of the Schizophrenic Brain Could Lead to Novel Treatments

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Cellular and Molecular Science, Molecular Biology, Neuroscience

Diminished Glymphatic Transport and Lymphatic Drainage Tied to Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy

Author: Vignesh Subramanian, Class of 2024 Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a cerebrovascular disorder characterized by the accumulation of amyloid protein deposits along cortical capillaries, cerebral vessel walls, and the brain’s leptomeninges. These plaques weaken fragile blood vessels, often resulting in intracerebral hemorrhaging. CAA is linked to vascular cognitive impairment and dysfunction and is a major contributor to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and … Continue reading Diminished Glymphatic Transport and Lymphatic Drainage Tied to Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy

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Biology, Brain, General Neuroscience, Neuroscience

Humans Remain Behaviorally Responsive to External Auditory Stimuli During Deep Sleep

Author: Vignesh Subramanian, Class of 2024 It has long been assumed that sleep is a stable state of unconsciousness in which an individual cannot perceive and respond to most external stimuli. However, recent studies have indicated that humans can process information, discriminate between basic sensations, and carry out limited executive functions, such as answering yes–no questions, while still asleep. Some oneirological studies have focused on … Continue reading Humans Remain Behaviorally Responsive to External Auditory Stimuli During Deep Sleep

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2023-24, General Neuroscience, General Psychology

Combined Personological and Motivational Correlates Drive Conspiratorial Ideation

Author: Vignesh Subramanian, Class of 2024 Figure 1: Heightened paranoia and feelings of antagonism towards others are among the strongest indicators of conspiratorial ideation. Conspiracy theories are generally unsubstantiated explanations for specific events or circumstances that attribute said events to powerful individuals or groups secretly working in tandem. It remains disputed that either the number of conspiracy theories or the extent of public belief in … Continue reading Combined Personological and Motivational Correlates Drive Conspiratorial Ideation

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