Stem cells in the brain, called neural stem cells (NSCs), have the ability to proliferate, differentiate, and undergo a process of cell death. Most of the NSCs in our brains exist in a dormant state, ...

The human brain can do many amazing things, but self-repair is not one of its repertoire of abilities. Once neurons die—from trauma, stroke, or disease—they rarely grow back. Scientists have been ...

Some parts of our bodies bounce back from injury in fairly short order. The outer protective layer of the eye—called the cornea—can heal from minor scratches within a single day. The brain is not one ...

When someone has a stroke—a leading worldwide cause of death and disability—time is of the essence. Almost nine out of 10 cases are ischemic strokes, caused by restricted blood flow in the brain, and ...

Resting brain stem cells hardly differ from normal astrocytes, which support the nerve cells in the brain. How can almost identical cells perform such different functions? The key lies in the ...

A group of Chinese researchers has created a robot with a brain made of human stem cells. The technology is technically a "brain-on-a-chip," and the researchers have been working to train the robot to ...

The brain stem is a portion of the brain made of four distinct sections: the diencephalon, mesencephalon, pons, and medulla oblongata. Each of these sections has associated functions which are vital ...

Stem cell transplantation can reverse stroke damage, researchers at the University of Zurich report. Its beneficial effects include regeneration of neurons and restoration of motor functions, marking ...