#neuraldevelopment — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #neuraldevelopment, aggregated by home.social.
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DATE: September 21, 2026 at 05:18AM
SOURCE: SOCIALPSYCHOLOGY.ORGTITLE: Scientists Discover the Human Brain May Actually Be Two Organs
Source: Google News - Health
Scientists have long treated the brain as a single organ with a shared developmental origin. New research suggests, however, that what we call the brain is actually built from two distinct systems which arose separately over hundreds of millions of years of evolution. The discovery has allowed researchers to grow human hindbrain neurons in the lab, opening new possibilities for studying ALS, spinal muscular atrophy, and other brainstem diseases.
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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #BrainTwoOrgans #NeuroscienceBreakthrough #HindbrainResearch #BrainEvolution #ALSResearch #SpinalMuscularAtrophy #NeuralDevelopment #BrainStemScience #TwoOrgansOneBrain #MedicalNewsScience
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DATE: September 21, 2026 at 05:18AM
SOURCE: SOCIALPSYCHOLOGY.ORGTITLE: Scientists Discover the Human Brain May Actually Be Two Organs
Source: Google News - Health
Scientists have long treated the brain as a single organ with a shared developmental origin. New research suggests, however, that what we call the brain is actually built from two distinct systems which arose separately over hundreds of millions of years of evolution. The discovery has allowed researchers to grow human hindbrain neurons in the lab, opening new possibilities for studying ALS, spinal muscular atrophy, and other brainstem diseases.
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #BrainTwoOrgans #NeuroscienceBreakthrough #HindbrainResearch #BrainEvolution #ALSResearch #SpinalMuscularAtrophy #NeuralDevelopment #BrainStemScience #TwoOrgansOneBrain #MedicalNewsScience
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DATE: September 21, 2026 at 05:18AM
SOURCE: SOCIALPSYCHOLOGY.ORGTITLE: Scientists Discover the Human Brain May Actually Be Two Organs
Source: Google News - Health
Scientists have long treated the brain as a single organ with a shared developmental origin. New research suggests, however, that what we call the brain is actually built from two distinct systems which arose separately over hundreds of millions of years of evolution. The discovery has allowed researchers to grow human hindbrain neurons in the lab, opening new possibilities for studying ALS, spinal muscular atrophy, and other brainstem diseases.
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #BrainTwoOrgans #NeuroscienceBreakthrough #HindbrainResearch #BrainEvolution #ALSResearch #SpinalMuscularAtrophy #NeuralDevelopment #BrainStemScience #TwoOrgansOneBrain #MedicalNewsScience
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DATE: September 21, 2026 at 06:12AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEEDTITLE: Stanford scientists discover the human brain may actually be two separate organs
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260920222352.htm
Scientists have found that the human brain develops from two distinct cellular systems, suggesting that evolution fused together two ancient nervous systems with very different jobs. The discovery also allowed researchers to grow human hindbrain neurons in the lab, opening new possibilities for studying ALS, spinal muscular atrophy, and other brainstem diseases.
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260920222352.htm
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Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #BrainScience #TwoBrainsOneOrgan #Neuroscience #StemCells #ALSResearch #SpinalMuscularAtrophy #Hindbrain #NeuralDevelopment #BrainStemDiseases #StanfordResearch
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DATE: September 21, 2026 at 06:12AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEEDTITLE: Stanford scientists discover the human brain may actually be two separate organs
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260920222352.htm
Scientists have found that the human brain develops from two distinct cellular systems, suggesting that evolution fused together two ancient nervous systems with very different jobs. The discovery also allowed researchers to grow human hindbrain neurons in the lab, opening new possibilities for studying ALS, spinal muscular atrophy, and other brainstem diseases.
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260920222352.htm
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #BrainScience #TwoBrainsOneOrgan #Neuroscience #StemCells #ALSResearch #SpinalMuscularAtrophy #Hindbrain #NeuralDevelopment #BrainStemDiseases #StanfordResearch
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DATE: September 21, 2026 at 06:12AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEEDTITLE: Stanford scientists discover the human brain may actually be two separate organs
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260920222352.htm
Scientists have found that the human brain develops from two distinct cellular systems, suggesting that evolution fused together two ancient nervous systems with very different jobs. The discovery also allowed researchers to grow human hindbrain neurons in the lab, opening new possibilities for studying ALS, spinal muscular atrophy, and other brainstem diseases.
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260920222352.htm
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #BrainScience #TwoBrainsOneOrgan #Neuroscience #StemCells #ALSResearch #SpinalMuscularAtrophy #Hindbrain #NeuralDevelopment #BrainStemDiseases #StanfordResearch
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DATE: September 15, 2026 at 04:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Synthetic CBD derivative prevents seizures in mice without causing sedation
URL: https://www.psypost.org/synthetic-cbd-derivative-prevents-seizures-in-mice-without-causing-sedation/
A new synthetic derivative of cannabidiol, or CBD, reduces seizure severity and promotes healthy brain cell development in mice. The compound, modified to have an elongated chemical tail, protected against chemically induced seizures without causing sedation. The research was published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology.
Developmental epilepsy syndromes are rare genetic disorders characterized by recurrent seizures and developmental delays in children. A common feature of these syndromes is a lack of inhibitory control over brain cell activity. The primary medications used to treat these conditions are benzodiazepines, which act to slow down the nervous system and decrease brain excitability.
Chronic use of these medications can lead to rapid tolerance and physical dependence. These drugs can also cause adverse side effects in children, including sleepiness, breathing problems, and cognitive deficits.
Cannabidiol, a major compound found in the cannabis plant, has emerged as a potential alternative to traditional anti-seizure medications. Unlike THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis, CBD does not produce a high. The Food and Drug Administration has approved a purified CBD solution to treat a few specific rare seizure disorders. The broader use of natural CBD for other types of epilepsy remains limited, and researchers are looking for ways to improve upon the natural molecule.
Researchers led by Dustin J. Hines and Rochelle M. Hines of the University of Nevada Las Vegas sought to design a library of new synthetic CBD derivatives. They started with a compound called carvone, an extract from caraway seeds, rather than natural cannabis extracts. This method avoids any potential THC contamination.
The researchers created several different variations of synthetic CBD by altering a specific part of the molecular structure called the alkyl side chain. This chain is a tail of carbon atoms attached to the main ring of the molecule. The team hypothesized that lengthening this carbon chain might change how the compound interacts with brain receptors.
To see how these structural changes affect brain activity, the researchers conducted a small study in freely moving mice. They gave the animals various synthetic CBD molecules with carbon chain lengths ranging from three to eight atoms. The researchers then measured the animals’ brain waves using electroencephalography, or EEG. Brain waves are electrical impulses that neurons use to communicate. They are divided into different frequency bands, such as delta, theta, and beta.
The researchers found that modifying the length of the carbon chain produced distinct effects on the animals’ brain wave frequencies. The molecule with an eight-carbon chain, named (+)-CBD-oct, increased electrical power specifically in the delta and theta frequency bands. Delta and theta are low-frequency brain waves often associated with deep relaxation, sleep, and memory processing. Based on this unique brain wave profile, the researchers selected (+)-CBD-oct as their primary candidate to test as an anti-seizure medication.
Because many epilepsy treatments cause severe sleepiness, the researchers tested whether (+)-CBD-oct would sedate the animals. They gave adult mice either a water placebo or a dose of the synthetic compound. The animals were then placed in an open testing arena for one hour, and researchers tracked the animals’ movements using video analysis software.
Mice treated with (+)-CBD-oct explored the open arena at similar speeds and traveled similar total distances compared to the mice that received the placebo. The synthetic compound did not reduce exploration or produce acute sedative effects. This lack of sedation distinguished the new compound from traditional benzodiazepines.
The team then tested the compound’s ability to stop seizures in normal adult mice. They gave the animals either a placebo, natural CBD, or the synthetic (+)-CBD-oct. Thirty minutes later, the researchers injected the mice with kainate. Kainate is a chemical compound routinely used in laboratories to induce seizures. They monitored the mice for physical signs of seizures and recorded their brain activity using EEG.
Mice pre-treated with (+)-CBD-oct experienced much less intense seizures than those given the placebo or natural CBD. The synthetic compound increased the amount of time it took for the first seizure to begin. The treatment also lowered the electrical peak of the seizure events measured on the EEG. The kainate injection caused high mortality in the placebo group, but (+)-CBD-oct treatment prevented mortality.
To see if the drug worked in a disease model, the researchers repeated the seizure experiment using a genetically modified mouse. This specific mouse model has a genetic mutation that disrupts normal inhibitory control in the brain. The mutation makes the mice highly susceptible to spontaneous seizures and sensitive to seizure-inducing chemicals, mimicking aspects of human developmental epilepsy.
The researchers gave these mutant mice (+)-CBD-oct or a placebo before injecting them with kainate. The synthetic compound reduced the behavioral signs of seizure severity in the mutant mice. The treatment delayed the onset of the seizures and reduced the total number of seizure events. The compound also improved the survival rate of the mutant animals following the chemical injection.
Finally, the researchers investigated how the compound affects the developing brain. Standard anti-seizure drugs can alter the growth of dendritic spines. Dendritic spines are tiny protrusions on the surface of brain cells that help form electrical connections with other neurons. The researchers administered (+)-CBD-oct or a placebo to normal mouse pups and the mutant epilepsy mouse pups for five consecutive days.
After the treatment period, they examined the brain tissue under a microscope. The drug did not alter or reduce the brain cell connections in the normal mice. The mutant mice normally display an overabundance of immature dendritic spines in their brains.
The five-day treatment normalized the brain cell structures in the mutant mice. The compound reduced the number of abnormal, immature connections in both the cortex and hippocampus, and promoted the development of mature dendritic spines in the cortex.
The study relied on a single chemical agent, kainate, to induce seizures. This specific chemical model may not capture the full range of biological mechanisms present in different types of human epilepsy. The researchers conducted the experiments using small groups of animals, and the study only examined male mice for the adult seizure tests. It is currently unknown if female adult mice would respond to the treatment in the same way.
The exact mechanisms by which the synthetic compound stops seizures remain uncharacterized. The drug altered the physical shape of the brain cell connections, but the researchers did not examine whether this physical change improved the functional electrical activity at the synapses. Future research will need to determine exactly which cell receptors the compound targets to exert its protective effects.
The study, “Carvone derived cannabidiol enantiomers as novel anticonvulsants,” was authored by Rochelle M. Hines, April Contreras, Adriana Carrillo, Alexandra Paton, Antonio J. Tenorio, William A. Maio, and Dustin J. Hines.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/synthetic-cbd-derivative-prevents-seizures-in-mice-without-causing-sedation/
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #SyntheticCBD #CBDderivative #SeizureResearch #Anticonvulsant #EpilepsyNews #NeuralDevelopment #CBDwithoutSedation #KainateModel #DendriticSpines #Neuropharmacology
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DATE: September 15, 2026 at 04:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Synthetic CBD derivative prevents seizures in mice without causing sedation
URL: https://www.psypost.org/synthetic-cbd-derivative-prevents-seizures-in-mice-without-causing-sedation/
A new synthetic derivative of cannabidiol, or CBD, reduces seizure severity and promotes healthy brain cell development in mice. The compound, modified to have an elongated chemical tail, protected against chemically induced seizures without causing sedation. The research was published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology.
Developmental epilepsy syndromes are rare genetic disorders characterized by recurrent seizures and developmental delays in children. A common feature of these syndromes is a lack of inhibitory control over brain cell activity. The primary medications used to treat these conditions are benzodiazepines, which act to slow down the nervous system and decrease brain excitability.
Chronic use of these medications can lead to rapid tolerance and physical dependence. These drugs can also cause adverse side effects in children, including sleepiness, breathing problems, and cognitive deficits.
Cannabidiol, a major compound found in the cannabis plant, has emerged as a potential alternative to traditional anti-seizure medications. Unlike THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis, CBD does not produce a high. The Food and Drug Administration has approved a purified CBD solution to treat a few specific rare seizure disorders. The broader use of natural CBD for other types of epilepsy remains limited, and researchers are looking for ways to improve upon the natural molecule.
Researchers led by Dustin J. Hines and Rochelle M. Hines of the University of Nevada Las Vegas sought to design a library of new synthetic CBD derivatives. They started with a compound called carvone, an extract from caraway seeds, rather than natural cannabis extracts. This method avoids any potential THC contamination.
The researchers created several different variations of synthetic CBD by altering a specific part of the molecular structure called the alkyl side chain. This chain is a tail of carbon atoms attached to the main ring of the molecule. The team hypothesized that lengthening this carbon chain might change how the compound interacts with brain receptors.
To see how these structural changes affect brain activity, the researchers conducted a small study in freely moving mice. They gave the animals various synthetic CBD molecules with carbon chain lengths ranging from three to eight atoms. The researchers then measured the animals’ brain waves using electroencephalography, or EEG. Brain waves are electrical impulses that neurons use to communicate. They are divided into different frequency bands, such as delta, theta, and beta.
The researchers found that modifying the length of the carbon chain produced distinct effects on the animals’ brain wave frequencies. The molecule with an eight-carbon chain, named (+)-CBD-oct, increased electrical power specifically in the delta and theta frequency bands. Delta and theta are low-frequency brain waves often associated with deep relaxation, sleep, and memory processing. Based on this unique brain wave profile, the researchers selected (+)-CBD-oct as their primary candidate to test as an anti-seizure medication.
Because many epilepsy treatments cause severe sleepiness, the researchers tested whether (+)-CBD-oct would sedate the animals. They gave adult mice either a water placebo or a dose of the synthetic compound. The animals were then placed in an open testing arena for one hour, and researchers tracked the animals’ movements using video analysis software.
Mice treated with (+)-CBD-oct explored the open arena at similar speeds and traveled similar total distances compared to the mice that received the placebo. The synthetic compound did not reduce exploration or produce acute sedative effects. This lack of sedation distinguished the new compound from traditional benzodiazepines.
The team then tested the compound’s ability to stop seizures in normal adult mice. They gave the animals either a placebo, natural CBD, or the synthetic (+)-CBD-oct. Thirty minutes later, the researchers injected the mice with kainate. Kainate is a chemical compound routinely used in laboratories to induce seizures. They monitored the mice for physical signs of seizures and recorded their brain activity using EEG.
Mice pre-treated with (+)-CBD-oct experienced much less intense seizures than those given the placebo or natural CBD. The synthetic compound increased the amount of time it took for the first seizure to begin. The treatment also lowered the electrical peak of the seizure events measured on the EEG. The kainate injection caused high mortality in the placebo group, but (+)-CBD-oct treatment prevented mortality.
To see if the drug worked in a disease model, the researchers repeated the seizure experiment using a genetically modified mouse. This specific mouse model has a genetic mutation that disrupts normal inhibitory control in the brain. The mutation makes the mice highly susceptible to spontaneous seizures and sensitive to seizure-inducing chemicals, mimicking aspects of human developmental epilepsy.
The researchers gave these mutant mice (+)-CBD-oct or a placebo before injecting them with kainate. The synthetic compound reduced the behavioral signs of seizure severity in the mutant mice. The treatment delayed the onset of the seizures and reduced the total number of seizure events. The compound also improved the survival rate of the mutant animals following the chemical injection.
Finally, the researchers investigated how the compound affects the developing brain. Standard anti-seizure drugs can alter the growth of dendritic spines. Dendritic spines are tiny protrusions on the surface of brain cells that help form electrical connections with other neurons. The researchers administered (+)-CBD-oct or a placebo to normal mouse pups and the mutant epilepsy mouse pups for five consecutive days.
After the treatment period, they examined the brain tissue under a microscope. The drug did not alter or reduce the brain cell connections in the normal mice. The mutant mice normally display an overabundance of immature dendritic spines in their brains.
The five-day treatment normalized the brain cell structures in the mutant mice. The compound reduced the number of abnormal, immature connections in both the cortex and hippocampus, and promoted the development of mature dendritic spines in the cortex.
The study relied on a single chemical agent, kainate, to induce seizures. This specific chemical model may not capture the full range of biological mechanisms present in different types of human epilepsy. The researchers conducted the experiments using small groups of animals, and the study only examined male mice for the adult seizure tests. It is currently unknown if female adult mice would respond to the treatment in the same way.
The exact mechanisms by which the synthetic compound stops seizures remain uncharacterized. The drug altered the physical shape of the brain cell connections, but the researchers did not examine whether this physical change improved the functional electrical activity at the synapses. Future research will need to determine exactly which cell receptors the compound targets to exert its protective effects.
The study, “Carvone derived cannabidiol enantiomers as novel anticonvulsants,” was authored by Rochelle M. Hines, April Contreras, Adriana Carrillo, Alexandra Paton, Antonio J. Tenorio, William A. Maio, and Dustin J. Hines.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/synthetic-cbd-derivative-prevents-seizures-in-mice-without-causing-sedation/
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #SyntheticCBD #CBDderivative #SeizureResearch #Anticonvulsant #EpilepsyNews #NeuralDevelopment #CBDwithoutSedation #KainateModel #DendriticSpines #Neuropharmacology
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DATE: September 15, 2026 at 04:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Synthetic CBD derivative prevents seizures in mice without causing sedation
URL: https://www.psypost.org/synthetic-cbd-derivative-prevents-seizures-in-mice-without-causing-sedation/
A new synthetic derivative of cannabidiol, or CBD, reduces seizure severity and promotes healthy brain cell development in mice. The compound, modified to have an elongated chemical tail, protected against chemically induced seizures without causing sedation. The research was published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology.
Developmental epilepsy syndromes are rare genetic disorders characterized by recurrent seizures and developmental delays in children. A common feature of these syndromes is a lack of inhibitory control over brain cell activity. The primary medications used to treat these conditions are benzodiazepines, which act to slow down the nervous system and decrease brain excitability.
Chronic use of these medications can lead to rapid tolerance and physical dependence. These drugs can also cause adverse side effects in children, including sleepiness, breathing problems, and cognitive deficits.
Cannabidiol, a major compound found in the cannabis plant, has emerged as a potential alternative to traditional anti-seizure medications. Unlike THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis, CBD does not produce a high. The Food and Drug Administration has approved a purified CBD solution to treat a few specific rare seizure disorders. The broader use of natural CBD for other types of epilepsy remains limited, and researchers are looking for ways to improve upon the natural molecule.
Researchers led by Dustin J. Hines and Rochelle M. Hines of the University of Nevada Las Vegas sought to design a library of new synthetic CBD derivatives. They started with a compound called carvone, an extract from caraway seeds, rather than natural cannabis extracts. This method avoids any potential THC contamination.
The researchers created several different variations of synthetic CBD by altering a specific part of the molecular structure called the alkyl side chain. This chain is a tail of carbon atoms attached to the main ring of the molecule. The team hypothesized that lengthening this carbon chain might change how the compound interacts with brain receptors.
To see how these structural changes affect brain activity, the researchers conducted a small study in freely moving mice. They gave the animals various synthetic CBD molecules with carbon chain lengths ranging from three to eight atoms. The researchers then measured the animals’ brain waves using electroencephalography, or EEG. Brain waves are electrical impulses that neurons use to communicate. They are divided into different frequency bands, such as delta, theta, and beta.
The researchers found that modifying the length of the carbon chain produced distinct effects on the animals’ brain wave frequencies. The molecule with an eight-carbon chain, named (+)-CBD-oct, increased electrical power specifically in the delta and theta frequency bands. Delta and theta are low-frequency brain waves often associated with deep relaxation, sleep, and memory processing. Based on this unique brain wave profile, the researchers selected (+)-CBD-oct as their primary candidate to test as an anti-seizure medication.
Because many epilepsy treatments cause severe sleepiness, the researchers tested whether (+)-CBD-oct would sedate the animals. They gave adult mice either a water placebo or a dose of the synthetic compound. The animals were then placed in an open testing arena for one hour, and researchers tracked the animals’ movements using video analysis software.
Mice treated with (+)-CBD-oct explored the open arena at similar speeds and traveled similar total distances compared to the mice that received the placebo. The synthetic compound did not reduce exploration or produce acute sedative effects. This lack of sedation distinguished the new compound from traditional benzodiazepines.
The team then tested the compound’s ability to stop seizures in normal adult mice. They gave the animals either a placebo, natural CBD, or the synthetic (+)-CBD-oct. Thirty minutes later, the researchers injected the mice with kainate. Kainate is a chemical compound routinely used in laboratories to induce seizures. They monitored the mice for physical signs of seizures and recorded their brain activity using EEG.
Mice pre-treated with (+)-CBD-oct experienced much less intense seizures than those given the placebo or natural CBD. The synthetic compound increased the amount of time it took for the first seizure to begin. The treatment also lowered the electrical peak of the seizure events measured on the EEG. The kainate injection caused high mortality in the placebo group, but (+)-CBD-oct treatment prevented mortality.
To see if the drug worked in a disease model, the researchers repeated the seizure experiment using a genetically modified mouse. This specific mouse model has a genetic mutation that disrupts normal inhibitory control in the brain. The mutation makes the mice highly susceptible to spontaneous seizures and sensitive to seizure-inducing chemicals, mimicking aspects of human developmental epilepsy.
The researchers gave these mutant mice (+)-CBD-oct or a placebo before injecting them with kainate. The synthetic compound reduced the behavioral signs of seizure severity in the mutant mice. The treatment delayed the onset of the seizures and reduced the total number of seizure events. The compound also improved the survival rate of the mutant animals following the chemical injection.
Finally, the researchers investigated how the compound affects the developing brain. Standard anti-seizure drugs can alter the growth of dendritic spines. Dendritic spines are tiny protrusions on the surface of brain cells that help form electrical connections with other neurons. The researchers administered (+)-CBD-oct or a placebo to normal mouse pups and the mutant epilepsy mouse pups for five consecutive days.
After the treatment period, they examined the brain tissue under a microscope. The drug did not alter or reduce the brain cell connections in the normal mice. The mutant mice normally display an overabundance of immature dendritic spines in their brains.
The five-day treatment normalized the brain cell structures in the mutant mice. The compound reduced the number of abnormal, immature connections in both the cortex and hippocampus, and promoted the development of mature dendritic spines in the cortex.
The study relied on a single chemical agent, kainate, to induce seizures. This specific chemical model may not capture the full range of biological mechanisms present in different types of human epilepsy. The researchers conducted the experiments using small groups of animals, and the study only examined male mice for the adult seizure tests. It is currently unknown if female adult mice would respond to the treatment in the same way.
The exact mechanisms by which the synthetic compound stops seizures remain uncharacterized. The drug altered the physical shape of the brain cell connections, but the researchers did not examine whether this physical change improved the functional electrical activity at the synapses. Future research will need to determine exactly which cell receptors the compound targets to exert its protective effects.
The study, “Carvone derived cannabidiol enantiomers as novel anticonvulsants,” was authored by Rochelle M. Hines, April Contreras, Adriana Carrillo, Alexandra Paton, Antonio J. Tenorio, William A. Maio, and Dustin J. Hines.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/synthetic-cbd-derivative-prevents-seizures-in-mice-without-causing-sedation/
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #SyntheticCBD #CBDderivative #SeizureResearch #Anticonvulsant #EpilepsyNews #NeuralDevelopment #CBDwithoutSedation #KainateModel #DendriticSpines #Neuropharmacology
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https://www.europesays.com/ie/685339/ Neurons may build their identity after birth, study finds #Als #BrainAtlas #BrainDevelopment #DNAEnhancers #Éire #FruitFlyBrain #GeneRegulation #GeneticRegulation #Glaucoma #IE #Ireland #NeuralDevelopment #NeuralStemCells #NeurologicalDisorders #NeuronDevelopment #NeuronIdentity #Neurons #Neuroscience #NeuroscienceResearch #Parkinson'sDisease #PNAS #ProceedingsOfTheNationalAcademyOfSciences #Science #StowersInstitute #TranscriptionFactors
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"These observations argue that both local intrajunctional and long-distance interjunctional synaptic competition are activity-mediated and that the structure of mature neural circuits arises from the activity patterns of developing circuits."
From: "Connectomic evidence that ordered activity drives neuromuscular network formation", Yaron Meirovitch et al. 2026 (Lichtman lab).
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-026-02344-7 -
"These observations argue that both local intrajunctional and long-distance interjunctional synaptic competition are activity-mediated and that the structure of mature neural circuits arises from the activity patterns of developing circuits."
From: "Connectomic evidence that ordered activity drives neuromuscular network formation", Yaron Meirovitch et al. 2026 (Lichtman lab).
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-026-02344-7 -
"These observations argue that both local intrajunctional and long-distance interjunctional synaptic competition are activity-mediated and that the structure of mature neural circuits arises from the activity patterns of developing circuits."
From: "Connectomic evidence that ordered activity drives neuromuscular network formation", Yaron Meirovitch et al. 2026 (Lichtman lab).
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-026-02344-7 -
"These observations argue that both local intrajunctional and long-distance interjunctional synaptic competition are activity-mediated and that the structure of mature neural circuits arises from the activity patterns of developing circuits."
From: "Connectomic evidence that ordered activity drives neuromuscular network formation", Yaron Meirovitch et al. 2026 (Lichtman lab).
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-026-02344-7 -
"These observations argue that both local intrajunctional and long-distance interjunctional synaptic competition are activity-mediated and that the structure of mature neural circuits arises from the activity patterns of developing circuits."
From: "Connectomic evidence that ordered activity drives neuromuscular network formation", Yaron Meirovitch et al. 2026 (Lichtman lab).
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-026-02344-7 -
¿Sabías que todos estos descubrimientos en #neurociencias se hicieron en #Uruguay y usando #insectos ?
Did you know all these #neuroscience discoveries were made in Uruguay using #insects ?
Tal vez es hora de que leas el #preprint de la #revision en #accesoabierto que escribimos con @constanzasilvera
Maybe it's time for you to read the #openaccess #review that @constanzasilvera and I wrote at
#biology #biologia #ciencia #science #visualsystem #ultrastructure #vision #desarrollo #development #neuraldevelopment #latex
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This is really exciting!
A long expected outome from my postdoc at Rafael Cantera's lab in #Uruguay in collaboration with Boris Egger in at @unifr is now at @biorxiv_devbioUsing David Morton's (OHSU) flies we found that hypoxia-driven guanylyl cyclases regulate brain size!
Atypical soluble guanylyl cyclases control brain size in Drosophila
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.07.17.603894v1
#Drosophila #neuroscience #development
@SocNeuroUy #iibce #neuraldevelopment #desarrollo #brain #neurociencia #insects #preprint @ohsunews @ladiaria @leo___lagos -
Today in likely controversial and potentially very high-impact studies in #Drosophila:
“Exposure to trans fat during the developmental period of Drosophila melanogaster alters the composition of fatty acids in the head and induces depression-like behavior”, by Luana Barreto Meichtry et al. 2023 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36933760/
Found via: https://mathstodon.xyz/@flypapers@botsin.space/110048256472016606
#nutrition #depression #NeuralDevelopment -
Today in likely controversial and potentially very high-impact studies in #Drosophila:
“Exposure to trans fat during the developmental period of Drosophila melanogaster alters the composition of fatty acids in the head and induces depression-like behavior”, by Luana Barreto Meichtry et al. 2023 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36933760/
Found via: https://mathstodon.xyz/@flypapers@botsin.space/110048256472016606
#nutrition #depression #NeuralDevelopment -
Today in likely controversial and potentially very high-impact studies in #Drosophila:
“Exposure to trans fat during the developmental period of Drosophila melanogaster alters the composition of fatty acids in the head and induces depression-like behavior”, by Luana Barreto Meichtry et al. 2023 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36933760/
Found via: https://mathstodon.xyz/@flypapers@botsin.space/110048256472016606
#nutrition #depression #NeuralDevelopment -
Today in likely controversial and potentially very high-impact studies in #Drosophila:
“Exposure to trans fat during the developmental period of Drosophila melanogaster alters the composition of fatty acids in the head and induces depression-like behavior”, by Luana Barreto Meichtry et al. 2023 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36933760/
Found via: https://mathstodon.xyz/@flypapers@botsin.space/110048256472016606
#nutrition #depression #NeuralDevelopment -
Today in likely controversial and potentially very high-impact studies in #Drosophila:
“Exposure to trans fat during the developmental period of Drosophila melanogaster alters the composition of fatty acids in the head and induces depression-like behavior”, by Luana Barreto Meichtry et al. 2023 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36933760/
Found via: https://mathstodon.xyz/@flypapers@botsin.space/110048256472016606
#nutrition #depression #NeuralDevelopment -
I just discussed this with a friend - a paper well worth reading.
Atzil, Shir, et al. "Growing a social brain." Nature human behaviour 2.9 (2018): 624-636.
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I just discussed this with a friend - a paper well worth reading.
Atzil, Shir, et al. "Growing a social brain." Nature human behaviour 2.9 (2018): 624-636.
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I just discussed this with a friend - a paper well worth reading.
Atzil, Shir, et al. "Growing a social brain." Nature human behaviour 2.9 (2018): 624-636.
-
I just discussed this with a friend - a paper well worth reading.
Atzil, Shir, et al. "Growing a social brain." Nature human behaviour 2.9 (2018): 624-636.
-
I just discussed this with a friend - a paper well worth reading.
Atzil, Shir, et al. "Growing a social brain." Nature human behaviour 2.9 (2018): 624-636.
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Very happy to share our new paper, showing that the ontogenetic trajectory of trabecular bone tracks neural development and life-history variation among humans and non-human primates. If applied to the fossil record, could lead to new ways to interpret the evolution of developmental trajectories of the brain. Great work by Jaap Saers, and coauthors Tim Ryan and Adam Gordon.
#humanevolution #biomechanics #locomotion #ontogeny #paleoanthropology #neuraldevelopment -
Very happy to share our new paper, showing that the ontogenetic trajectory of trabecular bone tracks neural development and life-history variation among humans and non-human primates. If applied to the fossil record, could lead to new ways to interpret the evolution of developmental trajectories of the brain. Great work by Jaap Saers, and coauthors Tim Ryan and Adam Gordon.
#humanevolution #biomechanics #locomotion #ontogeny #paleoanthropology #neuraldevelopment -
Very happy to share our new paper, showing that the ontogenetic trajectory of trabecular bone tracks neural development and life-history variation among humans and non-human primates. If applied to the fossil record, could lead to new ways to interpret the evolution of developmental trajectories of the brain. Great work by Jaap Saers, and coauthors Tim Ryan and Adam Gordon.
#humanevolution #biomechanics #locomotion #ontogeny #paleoanthropology #neuraldevelopment