美国艾伦研究所和霍华德·休斯医学研究所科学家通过蛋白质工程技术，改造出一种特殊蛋白，名为 iGluSnFR4，这是一种分子级"谷氨酸指示器"，可用于实时观察大脑中神经元的交流过程。这一成果有 助破译大脑隐藏的"语言"，加深对其复杂神经回路运作方式的理解。相关成果发表于新一期《自然·方 法》杂志。 在以往的研究中，科学家只能记录神经元发出的信号，也就是它们"说了什么"，而无法真正"听到"神经 元在接收什么。这些输入信号既微弱又迅速，在单个突触层面几乎无法捕捉。iGluSnFR4的出现解决了 这一难题。其对谷氨酸极为敏感，能检测大脑中神经元之间最微弱的输入信号，使科学家"听到"神经元 接收到的信息，为解析支撑学习、记忆和情绪的复杂电活动级联过程提供了新途径。 此外，谷氨酸信号异常与阿尔茨海默病、精神分裂症、自闭症和癫痫等多种神经系统疾病相关。科学家 可利用iGluSnFR4更精确地观测突触活动，从而深入研究这些疾病的发生机制。 （文章来源：科技日报） 在大脑中，数十亿个神经元通过沿着其分支状的轴突传递电脉冲，相互"交流"。当电信号到达轴突末端 ——突触时，它们无法跨越间隙到达下一个脑细胞。但电信号会触发化学信使的 ...

Core Findings - A recent study from Spain reveals that the brain can make decisions not only based on direct stimuli but also through indirect associations such as smells, which may aid in developing treatments for mental disorders like PTSD [1][2] Group 1: Research Methodology - Researchers trained mice to associate banana scent with sweetness and almond scent with saltiness, then introduced a negative stimulus linked to the banana scent, leading the mice to reject the sweet taste associated with the banana scent due to negative connotations [1] - The study identified brain regions activated during the formation of these associations, particularly the amygdala, which is linked to fear and anxiety responses and is also associated with PTSD [1] Group 2: Implications for Human Treatment - The neural circuits involved in decision-making in the human brain are believed to be similar to those in mice, suggesting that understanding these complex cognitive processes could inform the design of therapies for mental disorders [2] - Future treatments may involve stimulating or modulating specific brain regions to help patients with mental disorders [2]