Neuroscience

Technology Networks

In this Journal Club, Neuroscience News & Research's Ruairi J Mackenzie reviews the exciting field of non-invasive brain stimulation. But with academic research proceeding at a glacial pace and new medical devices raising ethical dilemmas, what's the best way forward for this technology?

Read more here: https://www.technologynetworks.com/neuroscience/articles/stimulation-sensation-the-non-invasive-technologies-shaking-up-neuroscience-346368

Could At-Home Brain Stimulation Be a New Therapy for Depression?

Teach Me in 10

This installment of Teach Me in 10 features [url][link]https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/people/view/81217-lelos-mariah[/link][name]Dr Mariah Lelos[/name][/url], a senior lecturer at Cardiff University. Dr Lelos teaches Cellular and Molecular Biology modules at Master's level at the university. Her particular interest is in  understanding the manifestation of motor and non-motor (cognitive, neuropsychiatric) dysfunctions in degenerative diseases using lesion, viral vector and genetically modified rodent models. Watch this Teach Me in 10 to discover why stem cells are an emerging treatment for neurological diseases such as Parkinson's and Huntington's.

Why Use Stem Cells To Treat Neurological Diseases? With Dr Mariah Lelos

Science communicators serve an important role, bridging researchers with scientists in other fields, science professionals, industry experts and the general public. "How do I become a science writer?" is a common question that we get asked here at Technology Networks. That is why for this installment of Teach Me in 10, the guests are … well, us! We wanted to share stories of how we became science writers and communicators, highlighting some of the things that we have learned through our journeys and to offer some top tips and tricks. Further resources: [url][link]https://www.technologynetworks.com/tn/how-to-guides/how-to-become-a-science-writer-8-tips-to-guide-you-312458[/link][name]8 Tips on How To Become a Science Writer[/name][/url], [url][link]https://www.technologynetworks.com/tn/meet-the-team[/link][name]Meet the Technology Networks Team[/name][/url].

Becoming a Science Writer

Understanding Animal Research

The Macaque monkeys used for research in Oxford are provided with different sorts of food to make their lives more interesting. In this clip we see seed lollipops 'enriching' the monkeys routine. You can look around where the monkeys live in this 360 tour: http://labanimaltour.org/oxford

Seed lollipops for monkeys

The most complicated instrument on planet earth resides inside of your skull – your brain.
Throughout your lifetime, your brain continuously revises its own wiring. This ability of the brain to change and adapt is referred to as neuroplasticity (neuro = neuron, plasticity = the malleability of the brain). Here to explain precisely what neuroplasticity is, how it happens and how we can harness it, is one of the world's leading minds in this area – Dr Michael Merzenich. For nearly five decades, Merzenich has been a leading pioneer in brain plasticity research. A professor emeritus neuroscientist at the University of California San Francisco, he is a recipient of one the world's top neuroscience prizes – the Kavli Prize – for his achievements in the field. In addition to contributing to over 232 scientific publications, Merzenich also writes books to communicate neuroscience research to lay audiences. His first book, Soft-Wired, offers advice on how to rejuvenate, remodel and reshape your brain. Merzenich is also the CSO and on the board of directors at Posit Science.

What is Neuroplasticity? With Dr Michael Merzenich

Factsheet on the forced swim test available here: https://www.understandinganimalresearch.org.uk/files/4216/0275/6025/FST_fact_sheet_-_final.pdf

The forced swim test is a behavioural test which assesses the efficacy of potential antidepressant treatments. It involves putting a rat or mouse into a small tank of water, from which it cannot escape. The water is heated to between 25 and 30 degrees Centigrade to ensure that the animals do not develop hypothermia, which would affect their welfare and the findings from the test. After a few minutes of swimming around and trying to climb out of the tank, the animal stops trying to escape and instead floats in the water, moving occasionally to keep floating.

The test typically lasts around five to six minutes, after which the animal is lifted out. It is not left in the water until the point of exhaustion. Rats and mice are naturally buoyant but if at any point during the test the animal were to look as though it were struggling to stay afloat, it would be taken out of the water.

The length of time that the animal was active and then floating (‘immobile’) in the water is recorded. Additional behaviours including swimming and climbing may also be recorded. Antidepressants make stressed animals move more than they would if they had not been given an antidepressant, so if the animal has been given an antidepressant treatment prior to the test it will spend more time swimming and less time floating. Animals that have not been given an antidepressant treatment (known as ‘controls’) or animals given a treatment that does not have antidepressant properties will spend less time swimming and more time floating.

By comparing the swimming and floating times of the dosed animals and the control animals, researchers can tell whether or not a potential new antidepressant is likely to be an effective treatment in depressed patients. If a potential treatment works in these animals, it can then go on to further stages of testing.

Forced Swim Test

Globally, the number of people living with dementia will increase from 50 million in 2018 to 152 million in 2050 – that's a staggering 204% increase. [url][link]https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/[/link][name]Alzheimer's Research UK[/name][/url] is the leading dementia and Alzheimer’s disease research charity, dedicated to causes, diagnosis, prevention, treatment and cure. The charity challenges the way that people think about dementia, uniting "leading thinkers" in the field and funding innovative scientific research in search of a cure. Alzheimer's Research UK's mission is to bring about the first life-changing dementia treatment by 2025. In this installment of Teach Me in 10, we're joined by Ed Pinches, science communications officer at Alzheimer's Research UK, who talks to us about the landscape of dementia research in 2021 and the path to new breakthroughs.

Dementia Research in 2021

In this installment of Teach Me in 10, we're joined by Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Psychoanalyst, bestselling author, columnist and podcast host Dr Gail Saltz. Saltz is a go-to expert on several physiological and mental health issues. In her latest book, "The Power of Different: The Link Between Disorder and Genius", Saltz examines the connection between the potential for great talent and conditions that are commonly thought of as "disabilities". Through this examination she reveals how the source of our struggles can actually be the origin of our great strengths.
This topic forms the basis of her Teach Me in 10 installment, which is so insightful that we have split it into two parts for you to enjoy. Part I can be accessed [url]link]https://www.labtube.tv/video/MTA3Nzc4[/link][name]here[/name][/url]. To learn more about Dr Saltz's works, visit her [url]link]https://drgailsaltz.com/[/link][name]website[/name][/url].

Teach Me in 10 – The Power of Different With Gail Saltz Part II

Don Whitley Scientific

This video demonstrates some of the benefits of using a Whitley Hypoxystation instead of a traditional incubator

Neuroscience

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