Female mice like warmer spaces than males because of two types of tiny temperature sensors in their nerves which are tuned to switch on at higher temperatures, according to researchers at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London.

Making the nevers possible

Commission community occupational therapy for children with sensory processing needs

YouTube video by Dr. Kim Sage, Licensed Psychologist

An autistic adult shares hidden sensory triggers and emotional reactions, offering insight into the often unseen realities of autism.

YouTube video by The Thought Spot

Neurensin-2 (Nrsn2) is a neuro-specific gene linked to neurodevelopmental disorders and has recently been reported to function as a bidirectional emotional regulator, highlighting its molecular roles in the nervous system. However, the connections between Nrsn2, brain architecture, and functionality remain to be fully elucidated. Our study utilized 11.7 T multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess the impact of Nrsn2 gene knockout on the brain’s microstructure, regional functional activity, and network connectivity during different developmental phases in mice. We observed significant changes in the functional brain network connectivity of Nrsn2−/− mice without marked differences in brain microstructure or regional activity. These changes were particularly pronounced in sensory-related areas, such as the gustatory and auditory systems, in both juvenile and adult specimens. Previous studies have correlated the enhanced Default Mode Network (DMN) with depression, and Nrsn2 knockout has been associated with stress resilience. Our findings further revealed reduced connectivity in various DMN regions in adult Nrsn2−/− mice, suggesting a potential link to increased stress tolerance. Moreover, the sensory system’s critical role in environmental perception implies that alterations in network connectivity due to Nrsn2 knockout could affect the processing and integration of external inputs, thereby influencing emotional experiences.