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May 15 (UPI) – Neuroscientists have identified two different nerve cell populations in the brain's dark substance, a relay station that controls a wide range of movements.
Physical movements are performed by coordinating myriad neural signals. Like a relay center that sends and receives information, the dark substance of the brain provides coordination.
Despite its importance for the neural origins of physical movement, scientists know very little about the structure of the dark substance.
To better understand the dark substance, scientists from the University of Basel in Switzerland conducted a comprehensive study of the neural region, studying its anatomy, genetics and features. Their research – detailed this week in the journal Cell Reports – has shown that a population of nerve cells in the relay center is responsible for initiating movements, while a second population maintains continuity of life. A movement.
"The heterogeneity of neuronal populations in the brain, including in substantia nigra, is a well-recognized concept," said researcher Giorgio Rizzi in a press release. "In our study, not only did we decipher the function of two groups of nerve cells, but we also showed that they were working together to produce proper locomotion."
A better understanding of the dark substance could help researchers develop new treatments for nerve degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease.
"It's worth noting that these cells are interaction partners of the population that we identify as essential for the initiation of the movement," said researcher Kelly Tan. "This means that signals from the cell population are no longer being received or transmitted, and this dysfunction may be at the root of the movement impairment symptom observed in patients with Parkinson's disease. . "
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