Biologists have uncovered a groundbreaking revelation: neurons utilize physical signals, rather than electricity, to maintain stable communication. This discovery, led by a team from the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, challenges long-held assumptions about neural function. The research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, reveals a novel mechanism of neural resilience, offering insights into the brain's ability to adapt and maintain health. The study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, focused on the synapse, the critical junction between neurons, and its role in muscle control, learning, and overall brain health. By blocking glutamate receptors on the receiving side of the synapse and using advanced imaging techniques, the researchers identified a physical reorganization of receptors as the key trigger for rapid adjustment. This process, facilitated by a scaffold protein called DLG, ensures steady communication between neurons, even when electrical synapse activity is silenced. The findings open new avenues for research into treatments that enhance neural resilience and potentially prevent neurological diseases.
