A Caltech-led team of researchers has discovered that a small-molecule metabolite, produced by bacteria that reside in the mouse gut, can travel to the brain and alter the function of brain cells, leading to increased anxiety in mice. The work helps uncover a molecular explanation for recent observations that gut microbiome changes are associated with […]

Drinking a glass of water is often sufficient to quench thirst after exercising. But while the sensation of thirst may be satiated after just a few minutes of drinking, the process of rehydration actually takes around half an hour. The delay occurs because the brain receives signals that you drank water before the body is […]

Modern Neurosurgery (3rd Edition) was published by Fudan University Press under the general editorship of Liangfu Zhou, academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Director of National Medical Center of Nerve Diseases, Director of Neurosurgery Department of Fudan University-affiliated Huashan Hospital and Vice Chairman of Translational Center of the Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute.   Contents […]

When we encounter an unfamiliar face, we tend to make snap judgments. Does the person look smart, attractive, or young? Are they trustworthy or corrupt? Neuroscientists and psychologists study how our brains form these facial biases, and how the judgments ultimately influence the way people behave.   “We tend to be quite confident in the […]

Gene therapy is a powerful developing technology that has the potential to address myriad diseases. For example, Huntington’s disease, a neurodegenerative disorder, is caused by a mutation in a single gene, and if researchers could go into specific cells and correct that defect, theoretically those cells could regain normal function.   A major challenge, however, […]

Organs—like the heart, brain, and kidneys—are complex structures made up of a combination of different cells that work cooperatively to perform specific functions. For example, around 70 distinct types of cells work together in the human eye to enable our visual perception. How do different types of cells evolve to cooperate like this?   An […]

The central nervous system (CNS) is mainly composed of neurons and glial cells. Neurons perform the function of transmitting and integrating neural signals, while glial cells play an important role in support and nutrition. Unlike peripheral tissues and organs, neurons in the central nervous system of mammals can hardly be regenerated after adulthood. In neurodegenerative […]

The human brain has 100 billion neurons, making 100 trillion connections. Understanding the precise circuits of brain cells that orchestrate all of our day-to-day behaviors—such as moving our limbs, responding to fear and other emotions, and so on—is an incredibly complex puzzle for neuroscientists. But now, fundamental questions about the neuroscience of behavior may be […]

A team of Caltech TCCI®-affiliated researchers including Viviana Gradinaru, professor of neuroscience and biological engineering and director of the Center for Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, Sarkis Mazmanian, Luis B. and Nelly Soux Professor of Microbiology and David Van Valen, assistant professor of biology and biological engineering and Heritage Medical Research Institute Investigator, among others, has […]

Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute (TCCI®) investigator Professor Huang Yanyan recently co-authored an article published in BMC Geriatrics, an international journal dedicated to geriatrics. Their study, supported by TCCI®, revealed a correlation between the amount and patterns of physical activity and depression among the elderly community in Shanghai.   This study aimed to identify the […]