Core Insights - Hu Hailan, a professor at Zhejiang University, was elected as an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in the life sciences and medicine division, recognized for her work in understanding emotions, social behavior, and mental disorders from a molecular genetics perspective [2][4] - Hu Hailan was also featured in Cell Press's "50 Scientists that Inspire" series, celebrating her contributions to science and encouraging aspiring scientists to embrace new challenges for personal and professional growth [2][4] Group 1: Achievements and Recognition - Hu Hailan has received numerous awards, including the 12th IBRO-Kemali International Prize and the World Outstanding Woman Scientist Award, highlighting her significant contributions to neuroscience [4] - The "50 Scientists that Inspire" series by Cell Press aims to provide insights into the lives and hopes of influential scientists, with 14 of the featured scientists being of Chinese descent [2][4] Group 2: Research Focus - Hu Hailan's laboratory primarily investigates the molecular and neural circuit mechanisms underlying social behavior and mental disorders, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in scientific research [4][10] - Current research interests include the mechanisms of rapid-acting psychiatric drugs, which offer unique opportunities to study the fundamental brain mechanisms of mental disorders [10] Group 3: Personal Insights and Advice - Hu Hailan encourages aspiring scientists to explore various disciplines early in their careers, as diverse experiences can lead to creativity and innovation in scientific exploration [11][12] - She emphasizes the importance of balancing research work with administrative responsibilities, advocating for open communication and collaboration within teams [9] Group 4: Future Perspectives - Looking ahead, Hu Hailan envisions a transformative era in neuroscience and medicine, similar to advancements seen in cancer treatment, with the potential for effective treatments for debilitating brain diseases [13]

Core Viewpoint - The recent research published in Science introduces a new model called "Kiss-Shrink-Run" that unifies the mechanisms of synaptic vesicle exocytosis and hyperfast recycling, providing new insights into neural signal transmission and related brain diseases [4][10]. Group 1: Research Background - The study addresses a long-standing debate in neuroscience regarding the mechanisms of synaptic vesicle release, which has persisted for half a century [4]. - Two opposing models, Full-collapse and Kiss-and-run, have been the focus of this debate, but technological limitations have hindered resolution [4][10]. Group 2: Methodology - The research team developed a millisecond time-resolved in situ cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) imaging technique to capture the biophysical processes of synaptic vesicle release and rapid recycling [4][5]. - By coupling optogenetic stimulation with rapid freezing techniques, the team was able to capture the instantaneous states of vesicle release at various time intervals (4-300 milliseconds) [5][8]. Group 3: Key Findings - The study revealed a new intermediate state of synaptic vesicles, identified as small vesicles approximately 29 nanometers in diameter, which are hypothesized to represent a transitional phase during vesicle release [5][10]. - The research outlines a complete process of synaptic vesicle release and rapid recycling, indicating that vesicles first form a ~4 nanometer fusion pore ("Kiss") within 4 milliseconds, then shrink to half their original surface area ("Shrink"), and most small vesicles begin to recycle within 70 milliseconds ("Run") [8][10]. Group 4: Implications - This new "Kiss-Shrink-Run" mechanism not only reconciles the two previously conflicting models but also highlights the structural basis for efficient and high-fidelity neural transmission [10]. - The innovative techniques developed in this research may have broader applications for studying dynamic processes within cells [10].

Core Viewpoint - The research team led by Professor Bi Guoqiang from the University of Science and Technology of China has developed a millisecond time-resolved cryo-electron microscopy technique that reveals the "microcode" for efficient information transmission in the brain, addressing a key controversy in neuroscience that has persisted for half a century [1][5]. Group 1: Research Breakthrough - The study published in the journal "Science" presents a significant breakthrough in understanding synaptic transmission mechanisms, which are crucial for brain function [1][5]. - The research resolves the long-standing debate between the "full fusion" and "kiss-and-run" models of synaptic vesicle release, which has been a major issue in neuroscience since the 1970s [5][7]. Group 2: Methodology - The research team combined optogenetic stimulation with an in situ rapid freezing method to achieve millisecond-level "dynamic snapshots" of synaptic transmission processes [5][7]. - By expressing light-sensitive proteins in neurons and using lasers to trigger action potentials, the team was able to capture structural snapshots of vesicle release at different stages, ranging from 4 milliseconds to 300 milliseconds [7]. Group 3: Findings - The analysis of over a thousand high-resolution three-dimensional structural data sets revealed that vesicle release and rapid recycling occur in three distinct stages: the formation of a nanoscale fusion pore ("kiss"), rapid shrinkage of the vesicle ("shrinkage"), and the majority of vesicles being recycled via "escape," with a minority undergoing "full fusion" [7]. - The intermediate shrinkage stage is identified as critical for providing the structural basis for efficient and high-fidelity signal transmission in neural synapses [7]. Group 4: Implications - This research offers new insights into the mechanisms of neural information processing and related brain functions and diseases [7]. - The development of time-resolved cryo-electron microscopy technology provides an innovative platform for studying other rapid biological processes, such as viral invasion and cellular secretion [7].

Core Insights - The research published in the journal "Science" reveals a breakthrough in neuroscience, focusing on the core mechanisms of neurotransmitter transmission in the brain using a newly developed millisecond-level imaging technology [1][4] - This study addresses a key controversy in neuroscience that has persisted for half a century, shedding light on the efficient transmission of information in the brain [1] Group 1: Research Development - The research team, led by Professor Bi Guoqiang from the University of Science and Technology of China, collaborated with multiple international teams over fifteen years to develop an in situ cryo-electron microscopy technique with millisecond time resolution [1][2] - The new imaging technology allows for "dynamic freeze-frame" observations of the synaptic transmission process in neurons [1] Group 2: Experimental Findings - Researchers captured structural snapshots of vesicle release at different stages through precise control, identifying a three-stage dynamic process: vesicle "kiss" fusion with the presynaptic membrane, rapid shrinkage to half its surface area, and eventual recovery of most vesicles through "escape," with a minority undergoing "full fusion" [2] - The intermediate shrinkage stage is highlighted as crucial for providing the structural basis for efficient and high-fidelity signal transmission in synapses [2] Group 3: Implications - This breakthrough offers a new perspective for understanding neural information processing and the mechanisms underlying brain functions and related diseases [4]

Core Insights - The article discusses the perception of time in the human brain, suggesting that it is not reliant on an internal clock but rather on interactions with the environment and behaviors [1][17][39] - David Robbe's research indicates that animals, such as rats, develop motor routines to estimate time, which aligns with Henri Bergson's philosophical concepts of time and memory [17][22][39] Group 1: David Robbe's Research - David Robbe conducts experiments to explore how the striatum in the brain may represent time perception through motor control [17][18] - In a treadmill experiment, rats exhibited superstitious behaviors to estimate time, indicating they do not have a true concept of time but rely on learned motor sequences [18][21] - The findings suggest that animals measure time through actions rather than an internal understanding, contrasting with human time perception [37][39] Group 2: Henri Bergson's Philosophy - Henri Bergson's ideas on time, particularly the concept of "durée," emphasize the qualitative, continuous flow of time as opposed to a quantifiable measure [27][39] - Bergson argues that our misunderstanding of time arises from spatializing it, which aligns with Robbe's findings that rats spatialize their actions to estimate time [22][29] - The article highlights the relevance of Bergson's philosophy in understanding the limitations of scientific approaches to time and consciousness [46][48] Group 3: Implications for Science and AI - The discussion raises questions about the nature of time in artificial intelligence, suggesting that AI lacks the continuous, subjective experience of time that living beings possess [41][42] - The article posits that the understanding of time and memory in neuroscience could benefit from integrating philosophical insights, particularly those of Bergson [46][48] - It emphasizes the need for a cross-disciplinary approach to explore the complexities of time perception and consciousness [48]

2025.04. 12 本文字数：851，阅读时长大约1分钟 作者 | 第一财经 钱童心 郭爱克院士治丧工作小组发布讣告称，中国科学院院士、国际著名神经科学家和生物物理学家、中国 科学院大学教授郭爱克因病医治无效，于2025年4月10日14时18分在浙江杭州逝世，享年85岁。 中国科学院脑科学与智能技术卓越创新中心方面向第一财经记者表示，郭爱克近日在桐乡参加学术会 议期间，突然在浴室晕倒，在送往杭州浙大二院后，因心脏骤停救治无效去世。 学界对此感到震惊和悲痛。中国科学院神经所一位郭爱克生前的同事对第一财经记者表示："郭院士 人特别好，对于学术会议的邀请也总是有求必应。" 郭爱克曾先后在中国科学院生物物理研究所、中国科学院脑科学与智能技术卓越创新中心等机构工 作。他长期致力于神经科学前沿探索，在学习记忆、注意抉择及神经计算与控制等脑认知领域取得了 一系列原创性成果。 郭爱克还引领了在"基因-脑-行为"框架下系统解析智力本质的研究，推动了空间亚磁环境影响脑认知 功能的探索，促进了我国神经行为学、集群仿生学和微观神经联结组等多项智能交叉领域的布局与建 设。 2020年至2025年，郭爱克受聘上海大学脑-智科学院士工 ...