UCLA study shows cell diversity of a key brain region

Courtesy of Weizhe HongWeizhe HongUCLA researchers have shown for the first time a comprehensive picture of cell diversity in the amygdala, a vital brain region involved in the regulation of emotions and social behavior, as well as in autism spectrum disorders, depression and other mental disorders. As part of the study, the team also reported on a new method for systematically linking the distinct types of brain cells to specific behavioral functions.“The level of diversity of cells within the brain has not been well understood,” said study senior author Weizhe Hong, assistant professor of biological chemistry and neurobiology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. “By revealing the many types of cells in the amygdala and then dev eloping a method for studying the functional role of these cells, our findings can pave the way to unraveling some of the mysteries in how this important part of the brain works and what goes wrong in mental health disorders.”The findings arepublishedin the October 11 issue of the journal Neuron.Unlike other organs in the body, the brain is known to consist of highly heterogeneous types of cells — a heterogeneity that is at the root of cognitive functions such as learning, memory, emotional arousal and decision-making, as well as brain disorders. Using recently developed sequencing technology that allows researchers to conduct rapid analyses of individual cells, the UCLA group found that the amygdala has much greater cellular div...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news