Researchers created a new brain mapping technique to visualize brain dynamics and dynamics of cortex maturation in children. The study found that gray matter loss begins first in motor and sensory parts of the brain, followed by areas involved in spatial orientation, speech, and language development.
Researchers identified 80 genes in the blood-brain barrier activated by Group B Streptococcus, a leading cause of bacterial meningitis. These genes triggered an immune response by mobilizing neutrophils to combat infection.
Researchers discover that Alzheimer's protein amyloid beta is transported into the brain by riding piggyback on a larger molecule called RAGE. This discovery opens up new possibilities for treating the disease. By blocking RAGE, blood flow to the brain can be restored and amyloid plaques reduced.
In a groundbreaking study, UCSD researchers discovered that the 14-3-3 epsilon protein is crucial for normal brain development and migration of neurons. Defects in this protein lead to severe brain disorders like Miller-Dieker syndrome, characterized by profound mental retardation and early death.
Researchers have developed a new brain imaging technique called Voxel-based Lesion-Symptom Mapping (VLSM), which pinpoint areas of the brain most crucial for normal functioning. The method uses structural MRI scans and compares them to functional brain imaging data, allowing for more accurate mapping of brain damage and behavior.
A Saint Louis University study found that fat mice get fatter as they age due to a blood-brain barrier defect, while skinny ones remain the same. The researchers propose identifying substances that impair leptin transport to develop new obesity treatments.
Research by Kansas State University psychology professor maps choice-making in the brain, revealing two systems: deliberative and emotional. The study demonstrates the relationship between brain activity and observed choices, with surprising results on how the brain processes risk and ambiguity.
A Rutgers researcher is using brain signal analysis to better understand attention deficit disorder (ADD) and schizophrenia. By monitoring brain activity in real-time, the study aims to identify common patterns of interaction that can help define brain profiles for individuals with these conditions.
A nationwide brain imaging network will share data from patients with schizophrenia to expand understanding of the disease and develop new treatments. The project, led by Steven G. Potkin, aims to create a comprehensive database of brain images and advance research in brain disorders.
Scientists have developed a novel treatment using neural stem cells to track and target brain tumor cells that spread into normal brain tissue. The therapy involves genetically engineering neural stem cells to produce interleukin 12, an immune-stimulating chemical known to kill glioma cells. Mice treated with this approach survived sig...
A new study confirms that children with ADHD have smaller brains than those without the disorder, but found that stimulant medications do not affect brain size. The research, led by Dr. F. Xavier Castellanos, also showed that brain development in children with ADHD is normal and healthy.
The Dynamic Brain Atlas project utilizes Grid technology to create customized brain atlases from hundreds of images. This allows radiologists to identify subtle brain abnormalities and improve diagnoses for psychiatric conditions and dementias.
Researchers have made a groundbreaking finding that may impact brain swelling research by discovering how the Aquaporin-4 protein is tethered to Syntrophin, leading to better understanding of the blood-brain barrier. The study's results suggest that AQP4 and Syntrophin play a crucial role in regulating water flow in the brain.
Researchers found that deaf people's brains process vibrations in the same part of the brain as sound, leading to a similar musical experience. This discovery challenges the long-held belief that brains are hardwired at birth and instead shows that our genes provide a developmental strategy for brain organization.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers have found evidence that alcohol inhibits the actions of key proteins called N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptors in specific regions of the brain. This new interaction affects brain regions involved in memory formation and higher mental functions.
A new study allows researchers to directly compare the pediatric brain with the adult brain using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The findings reveal that children and adults use different brain strategies to perform tasks, suggesting distinct developmental pathways. By creating a template of healthy child brains, scienti...
A new study by UCLA researchers has created images showing how an individual's genes affect their brain structure and intelligence. The findings, published in Nature Neuroscience, reveal that genetic differences can significantly impact brain regions controlling language and reading skills.
Jefferson researchers successfully introduced 90 billion copies of a healthy gene into the brains of three children with Canavan disease. The goal is to increase enzyme production and reduce toxic compound buildup, potentially improving brain development and function.
A Yale researcher found that brain activity is consistently present in the background, contradicting cognitive theories. The study highlights the need for a more holistic approach to understanding brain function and bridging the gap between psychiatric and neuroscientific views.
A Harvard Medical School study found that immune proteins Class I MHC and CD3-zeta play a role in brain development and remodeling, potentially triggering developmental disorders like dyslexia. The proteins may also be involved in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center found a strong link between brain cell loss in Gulf War veterans and abnormal over-production of dopamine, a neurotransmitter chemical important in degenerative brain diseases. The study suggests that the brain damage may be having a real effect on these veterans' brain function.
Researchers from Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School have made a groundbreaking discovery that existing brain cells can replenish dead counterparts, potentially treating degenerative brain diseases. The study found that nerve cells in the cerebral cortex can be induced to heal themselves through a process called neuronal rep...
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University found that the human brain employs surprising economies of effort in problem-solving by minimizing mental workload. The study used fMRI scans to identify brain activation patterns for verbal and visual thinking strategies.
A study published in Radiology found that Gulf War veterans experienced significant brain-cell loss, particularly in the brain stem, right basal ganglia, and left basal ganglia. The loss of functioning brain cells was linked to various symptoms, including joint pain, fatigue, dizziness, and mental confusion.
Researchers at University of Maryland School of Medicine identified zonulin and zot proteins in human brain that regulate the blood-brain barrier. This discovery could lead to new treatments for brain disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and HIV infection.
Aging affects dopamine levels, leading to decreased glucose metabolism and brain activity in regions related to cognition. This finding may help develop interventions for age-related cognitive decline.
A new study by University of Washington researchers reveals that dyslexic children use significantly more brain area and energy while performing simple language tasks. The findings provide new evidence that dyslexia is a brain-based disorder and shed light on its developmental mechanisms.
Researchers discovered that higher brain centers act as training wheels for the lower brain by providing input to adapt to damaged sensory pathways. This feedback loop enables the lower brain to reorganize and form new neural pathways.
Researchers developed a technique to visualize nerve fiber bundles in the living human brain, providing detailed maps of connections between different areas. This study may lead to improvements in brain surgery, diagnosis, and understanding of neurological diseases, such as schizophrenia.
The Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium, sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, aims to speed the development of innovative treatments for children with brain tumors. The consortium brings together experts from eight institutions to conceive, develop and carry out pilot studies and early trials of promising new therapies.
Researchers have found a secondary barrier in the brain that prevents certain drugs from reaching tumors and neurological disorders. The barrier is called the basement membrane and traps stealth agents while allowing others to pass through, highlighting challenges for gene therapy and drug delivery.
Researchers mapped brain regions affected by cocaine and found that addiction is linked to the right side of the brain. The study used a powerful brain-imaging technique to map frontal-lobe regions associated with cocaine's effects in 20 cocaine addicts.
A study by researchers at UCSF found that mild electrical stimulation of the brain region responsible for sound processing can quickly bulk up and reform connections, potentially speeding up stroke recovery. This technique may help patients regain lost brain functions such as speech, accurate hearing, and movement.
Researchers at Henry Ford Health System discovered evidence that male brains shrink faster with age than female brains. Brain regions involved in thinking, planning and memory show greater age-related shrinkage in men. The findings may help explain sex differences in age-related brain disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center found a way to increase vitamin C levels in the brain by crossing the blood brain barrier. They achieved this by injecting dehydroascorbic acid, which is converted to ascorbic acid in the brain.
A landmark study found a unique interaction between proteins produced by two brain genes, mdab1 and reelin, crucial for normal brain development. The discovery may lead to breakthroughs in cancer research and treatments for neurological disorders like schizophrenia and epilepsy.
The primary visual cortex, V1, is found to process optical illusions and complex images, contrary to previous beliefs. This discovery provides insights into how the brain cooperates to process different aspects of vision.
Researchers found that a drug called MK-801 can reduce brain cell death during cardiac surgery by blocking glutamate receptors. The study used dogs and showed promising results, suggesting a potential new approach to preventing brain damage during heart surgery.
A comprehensive brain imaging study confirms subtle structural abnormalities in the brain circuit responsible for executive functions in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The study found smaller right hemisphere brain structures and abnormally symmetrical brains in boys with ADHD.
Researchers have protected growing brain cells from atrophying by treating them with a protein called NT-4, which fosters brain cell growth. This discovery could offer new treatment options for diseases involving gain or loss of brain cell connections, such as mental retardation and neurodegenerative diseases.