Learning how one element--zinc--helps millions of nerve cells communicate

(West Virginia University) Scientists have known for decades that zinc plays a crucial role in how nerve cells work together to form neural circuits. But they still don't understand exactly what zinc does or how it does it. Charles Anderson, a researcher with the WVU School of Medicine and Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, has received a $1,889,000 grant from the National Institute of Health to investigate the topic. In particular, he will explore how zinc helps us detect and interpret sounds.