Unveiling the Initial Wireless Map of a Worm's Nervous System.

Posted under: AI technologies
Date: 2023-11-07
Unveiling the Initial Wireless Map of a Worm's Nervous System.

Researchers at the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, UK, have successfully mapped a neuropeptide network in the worm C. elegans, revealing 31,479 neuropeptide interactions among the organism's 302 neurons. This pioneering study, published in Neuron, sheds light on how neuropeptides facilitate communication between non-adjacent neurons, resembling a wireless connectome, unlike the traditional wired synaptic connectome. Neuropeptides play a crucial role in various biological responses, impacting emotions, mental states, and crucial neuropsychiatric conditions. Researchers Schafer and Ripoll-Sanchez highlight the importance of understanding the wireless neuropeptide network for understanding neuroactive drug mechanisms, emotions, and mental states. The study reveals the intricate nature of worm networks, which, despite their small size, resemble larger animals, suggesting their potential application to larger nervous systems.

Read more at: www.eurekalert.org