NIH Research Matters

Researchers defined the neural pathways for itch sensation and identified a signaling molecule called somatostatin that enhances itch and blunts pain in mice.

A new study reveals that a network of brain areas involved in interpreting other people’s states of mind has started developing by age three.

Minoxidil, when given orally to mice, changes blood vessel structure to reduce stiffness and increase blood flow to the brain. The drug may have potential for people with certain health problems.

Researchers mapped the wiring of the thirst center in the mouse brain, providing a glimpse into the rules that govern how brain circuits regulate fluid intake.

In a study of men who were stressed by having to give short speeches, seeing different types of smiles affected the men’s stress responses differently.

New study findings raise doubt about the common practice of increasing inhaled steroid dose in young children when asthma symptoms begin to worsen.

Mice fed a standard diet but deprived of food every other day developed more efficient energy metabolism and improved running endurance. The findings pave the way for studies in people.