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- Basics
- Communication of Cells
Colorful Activity: Nerve Cells in the Hippocampus
This image shows a tangle of nerve cells in the hippocampus.
10.05.2012
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- Diseases
- Successful aging
Molecular Detectives
We are our memories. But neural firing alone cannot unravel the traces of memory.
01.02.2026
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- Percieve
- Smell & Taste
Not just in the Mouth and Nose
Taste and smell receptors are not only found in the mouth and nose.
02.09.2025
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- Glossary
Huntington's disease
Huntington's disease is a progressive and fatal hereditary disease that manifests itself in the brain. It is characterized by dyskinesia, dementia, and behavioral and psychological changes. To date, there is no cure, although scientists have a relatively good understanding of its molecular causes. The Huntington's gene of those affected contains up to 200 copies of a specific base triplet (group of three bases). This causes the cells to produce a defective protein, which primarily forms deposits in the striatum of the brain. This leads to degeneration of the neurons in the basal ganglia and the cortex.
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- Glossary
CREB
A transcription factor in the cell nucleus that is activated by cAMP-dependent signaling pathways. CREB influences gene activity and can thus improve communication between two cells. This is a cellular basis for learning processes.
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- Glossary
Neurodegeneration
Collective term for diseases in which nerve cells gradually lose their structure or function until they eventually die. In many cases, misfolded proteins are the trigger – such as certain forms of the proteins beta-amyloid and tau in the case of Alzheimer's disease. In other diseases, such as Parkinson's disease or Huntington's disease, proteins within the neurons are not broken down properly. As a result, toxic aggregates are deposited there, leading to the respective disease symptoms. While Huntington's disease is clearly genetic, in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's there appear to be certain gene variants that promote their development. None of these neurodegenerative diseases can be cured at present.
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- News from the Institutes
A human model of the blood-brain barrier
Disruptions to the protective barrier contribute to the development of serious brain diseases such as stroke and Alzheimer's.
16.12.2025
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Home
24.02.2017
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- Basics
- Anatomy
The Basal Ganglia
Whenever we perform a deliberate movement, core areas deep within the brain are involved.
23.08.2011
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- Discover
- Milestones
Thomas Südhof: Many small Steps to the Nobel Prize
Thomas Südhof discovered important synaptic proteins. For this, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine.
03.12.2013
