All articles tagged with #neurotransmission
Pathogenic variants in UNC13A impair synaptic function, causing a neurodevelopmental syndrome with diverse clinical features, including profound developmental delay, seizures, and movement disorders, through mechanisms affecting protein expression and synaptic plasticity.
Scientists have discovered a "fear switch" in the brain that can be turned off, offering potential insights into treating anxiety and stress disorders. By studying mice, researchers found that a severe fright triggers a switch in neurotransmission from glutamate to GABA, sustaining a fear response. They also identified methods to suppress this switch, including using a virus to suppress the gene responsible for making GABA and administering the antidepressant fluoxetine immediately after a fright. This research provides a promising start towards developing targeted and specific interventions for fear-related disorders.
Heavy drinking during adolescence can lead to thinner cortical gray matter and altered neurotransmission in adulthood, according to a recent study. The research, which utilized MRI and TMS-EEG technology, found that young adults with a history of heavy drinking exhibited lower gray matter thickness and increased N45 potential, indicative of inhibitory GABA and excitatory glutamate neurotransmitter activity. The study highlights the long-term, detrimental impact of adolescent heavy drinking on adult brain structure and function, particularly in the frontal and parietal lobes.