A “molecular volume knob” regulating electrical signals in the brain helps with learning and memory, according to a Dartmouth study.
The molecular system controls the width of electrical signals that flow across synapses between neurons.
The finding of the control mechanism, and the identification of the molecule that regulates it, could help researchers in their search for ways to manage neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy.
The research, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, describes the first study of how the shapes of electrical signals contribute to the functioning of synapses.
“The synapses in our brain are highly dynamic and speak in a range of whispers and shouts,” said Michael Hoppa, an assistant professor of biological sciences at Dartmouth and the research lead. “This finding puts us on a…
