Study: Bone protein linked to neurological irregularities

By Staff Writer

Doctors have identified a protein in the brain that is responsible for helping individuals learn from their mistakes.

The study, which appears in the journal PLoS Biology, is based on a genetic mouse experiment using advanced imaging techniques. The team of researchers examined the precise activity in the cerebellum that allows the brain to use sensory information and convert it into exact motor response. They found that the Bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4), which is typically associated with bone development, helps correct initial errors in neurological connections during brain development.

If faulty connections between neurons are not eliminated by BMP4, then an individual may be at risk of having a brain that cannot process translate certain input, such as mistakes, into corrective action. The study's authors said that the role of BMP4 and these inappropriate connections during brain development will be the major focus of future research, which could have potential implications on the diagnosis and treatment of autism, schizophrenia and epilepsy.

Adolescents who have learning disorders or other neurological problems may benefit from wilderness therapy programs, which aim to provide help for troubled teens.