The Seminar for Neurotrauma and Diseases at Purdue University features innovative technologies to treat traumatic brain injuries, newly discovered biomarkers, and integrative neuroscience techniques. Researchers will showcase advancements in neurotrauma research with the help of industry leaders like Plexon.
A study using non-invasive brain stimulation found that exciting the brain's reward circuit before listening to music increased pleasure, while inhibiting it decreased it. The researchers also discovered that synchronized activity between auditory and reward regions was linked to the pleasure experienced.
New research links prolonged amygdala activity to increased negative daily mood and decreased positive daily mood. Participants who displayed increased positive mood showed greater psychological wellbeing, suggesting the impact of amygdala activity on daily emotional experience.
Sensory neurons in fingers can detect touch on a single fingerprint ridge scale. This sensitivity explains the human hand's refined sense of touch.
New research published in JNeurosci found that recalling similar memories triggers divergent brain activity patterns, resulting in better memory performance. This study suggests that the brain exaggerates differences between similar events, which can be advantageous in distinguishing between similar things and preventing confusion.
Research reveals microglia's essential role in refining auditory pathways, even when pruning is delayed. Without microglia, connections between neurons don't fully mature, leading to impaired hearing.
Researchers develop robots that mimic human appearance, perception, and control systems to create more advanced androids. Robots can also experience sensations like touch and pain, and learn from humans through observation and feedback mechanisms.
Research finds musicians have stronger brain connections compared to non-musicians, with younger start dates showing more significant differences. Musicians with absolute pitch also exhibit enhanced auditory region activity and white matter connections.
Research by University of Bristol scientists shows neonicotinoid insecticides disrupt bees' and flies' ability to get a good night's sleep, affecting daily behavioral rhythms. The pesticides also impair memory and circadian behavior in these insects, leading to potential decline in pollinator populations.
Research finds that the ventromedial prefrontal cortex drives self-bias in working memory, allowing individuals to recall information about themselves faster than others. This brain region is activated when holding self-representing stimuli in working memory.
A MicroLED neural probe for neuroscience has been developed to control and record neural activity in the brain. The probe uses high-efficiency MicroLEDs to activate neural activity with sufficient light output, enabling researchers to study higher brain functions and their relationship with animal behaviors.
Researchers discovered that face-sensitive neurons in humans reactivate with the same unique pattern when viewing and remembering a face. This finding has significant implications for understanding human facial recognition and processing.
A brain network comprising thalamus, cingulate cortex, and angular gyri is associated with changes in connectedness during sleep and anesthesia. This region's activity corresponds to changes in conscious state, indicating its possible role in human consciousness.
Early childhood memory abilities predict the strength of future brain connections, while the strength of early brain connections predicts future memory acuity. This study highlights the complex relationship between brain function and ability during development.
A research team led by Prof. Gordon Cheng aims to develop a 'soft' exoskeleton that can sense user movement intentions and provide real-time feedback, integrating with brain-machine interfaces. The goal is to create an exoskeleton that works as an extension of the human body, enabling users to control their movements with their minds.
Research finds that taking turns in 'conversation' with caregivers relates to synchronized activation in language areas, shaping brain function. Weaker connectivity in the bottom-up subnetwork is associated with more conversational turns at home.
Research suggests that psychosis symptoms may be linked to impaired information spread in the brain, with altered white matter contributing to delusions and other symptoms. The study found increased consciousness thresholds in patients with psychosis, correlating with greater white matter connectivity.
Learning a new language alters how the brain divides labor between hemispheres. Comprehension becomes more specialized in one hemisphere, while production remains linked to the left hemisphere.
A new gene therapy project at the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience seeks to repair brain damage caused by MS by identifying molecules that stimulate myelin and axon repair. The goal is to develop a drug promoting functional recovery of the nervous system, potentially revolutionizing treatment for advanced MS.
Mice sleep-deprived for research show increased preference for lower doses of cocaine, while rested mice do not. Blocking the orexin system reduces the increased cocaine preference driven by sleep deprivation.
Society for Neuroscience recognizes Courtney Miller for her career-long practice of mentoring women scientists, including founding Professional Women's Nexus to provide support and connections. Miller has also achieved significant scientific success, developing treatments for drug addiction and post-traumatic stress disorder.
A brain protein that regulates time-keeping also plays a crucial role in normal memory formation, according to new research in fruit flies. Memory regulation by this protein, PDF, likely occurs without direct signaling to the main memory structure.
Emery N. Brown, a neuroscientist and practicing anesthesiologist, has won the SfN's Swartz Prize for his contributions to neural signal processing, anesthetic mechanisms, and statistical methods. His research advances neuroscientific understanding of how anesthetics affect the brain, improving patient care.
Research finds that focusing on the ending of an experience can lead to undervaluing positive experiences that end poorly. The brain's neural representation of a pleasant ending can overpower information from the amygdala, resulting in poor decision-making.
Research reveals a correlation between impaired blood flow and tau protein buildup in Alzheimer's disease, suggesting targeting vascular function as a key to prevention and treatment. The study used MRI and PET scans to compare blood flow and tau levels in older adults with varying degrees of cognitive impairment.
Researchers used fMRI to compare brain activity in humans and dogs while watching videos of other animals. Dog brains showed no face-specific activation, unlike humans, but did display species preference for viewing a dog over a human.
The anterior cingulate cortex region 'area 32' relays information between cognitive and emotional brain regions, enabling emotional equilibrium. In depression, this balance is disrupted, with an overactive area 25 leading to negative emotions and rumination.
New research reveals that fear and anxiety are constructed from a shared set of core neural building blocks. The study's findings suggest that the brain regions long thought to be responsible for each emotion are actually equally sensitive to certain and uncertain threats.
A new study from JNeurosci found that time-sensitive neurons in the supramarginal gyrus fatigue and distort our subjective experience of time. When repeatedly exposed to a fixed duration stimulus, these neurons wear out, leading to skewed perceptions of time.
A recent study found that multitasking performance relies on the effective exchange of information between the putamen and cortical regions. After a week of practice, participants showed improved task performance and increased communication rates between these brain areas.
Rats' brain activity shows that individual preferences for alcohol vary based on how the brain interprets it as a reward. The orbitofrontal cortex stores reward value and regulates reward seeking, with malfunctioning linked to drug use disorders.
New research reveals that weightlifting strengthens the reticulospinal tract, a neural pathway controlling posture and movement. The study, published in JNeurosci, found that increased strength is driven by strengthened signaling in this pathway.
Researchers found that Rhesus monkeys avoid lifeless monkey faces but show social facial expressions towards a natural-looking avatar with fur and details. The study suggests using this type of avatar in social cognition studies for standardization and replicability.
Research suggests fluctuating estrogen levels make alcohol more rewarding to female mice, potentially increasing susceptibility to alcohol use disorders. Activating estrogen receptors increases dopamine release and binge drinking behavior in female mice.
Researchers analyzed child brain activity using fMRI to predict working memory abilities during development. The study found that brain network activity in the frontoparietal network was unique to working memory and reflected individual capabilities.
Research reveals that traumatic stress can strengthen amygdala pathways involved in emotion and social behaviors, leading to increased aggression. Deep brain stimulation may be a potential target for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related aggression.
Research in marmosets suggests that increased levels of serotonin transporters in the amygdala may contribute to trait anxiety. Targeting this region with anti-anxiety medication, such as SSRIs, could provide faster symptom relief.
A new high-resolution 3D map of the mouse brain has been published, providing a reference atlas for the neuroscience community. The map enables whole-brain studies and improves research by allowing researchers to precisely co-register different types of data, enabling bigger-picture views and comparisons.
Scientists discovered widespread synaptic changes in sea slugs that learn to reject non-food objects, offering insight into human learning's impact on the brain. The study found that synaptic modifications occur in concert across various brain areas.
Taking antibiotics with opioids may exacerbate addiction by altering brain responses to opioids, according to research on rats depleted of their gut microbiome. The study found that a weakened microbiome intensified opioid intoxication while reducing withdrawal effects.
Researchers successfully rebuilt bridge between experimental neuroscience and artificial intelligence learning algorithms by demonstrating a new accelerated brain-inspired learning mechanism. This mechanism outperformed commonly-used machine learning algorithms in handwritten digit recognition tasks with small datasets.
A modified form of tubulin traps signaling molecules, reducing brain messaging in people with depression. Tubulin levels may provide a diagnostic marker and target for antidepressant treatment.
Research reveals stress induces structural changes in mice by halting GluA1 protein production, affecting neuron communication. Astrocytes' branch retraction impacts neurotransmitter release and neural function.
Research in mice reveals that lactation temporarily changes how a mother's TIDA neurons regulate prolactin secretion, causing them to fire more frequently and out of rhythm. However, these changes are fully reversible after weaning, suggesting a unique adaptation to motherhood.
Researchers used electroencephalography to monitor brain activity while participants made decisions. Weaker alpha waves indicated resisting the bias, while stronger waves signaled succumbing to it. This study demonstrates that neural signals can predict individual biases in perception.
Researchers found that brain regions involved in taste also activate when thinking about food origin. The study used functional MRI to monitor brain activity while participants answered questions about words from different categories.
Researchers at Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg are using brain research methods to analyze artificial neural networks and improve explainable AI. The Cognitive neuroscience inspired techniques project aims to understand the internal processes of ANNs and identify malfunctions.
New research suggests that moving birth a day early can trigger an early start to widespread neuron death in the developing brain. Delaying birth has no apparent effect on when this cell death occurs, indicating a developmental process takes over in this scenario.
Research finds that brain iron levels increase during childhood and adolescence, correlating with improved cognitive abilities. Decreased iron levels in certain brain regions are associated with impaired performance on cognitive tasks, highlighting the importance of iron for healthy brain development.
A special issue of Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience reports remarkable progress in treating conditions of partial blindness. Research explores various aspects of vision loss due to diseases like glaucoma or optic neuropathy, with a focus on stop-cell death and induce regeneration to restore vision.
Neurogenesis has been shown to have an additional role beyond learning and memory, with adult neural stem cells involved in regeneration. In a study published in JNeurosci, mice were exposed to a toxic substance that damaged the dentate gyrus, but recovered almost fully through neurogenesis.
A special issue of Harvard Review of Psychiatry explores new treatments for major depressive disorder (MDD) by examining five key areas, including gender differences, neuroscience-based interventions, the role of the microbiome, opioid-based therapies, and technology in treatment. The research aims to develop more effective treatments ...
Researchers found that brain activity in healthy adults synchronized with sound waves produced by a silent woman speaking, indicating the brain can process auditory information from visual cues. This ability arises from visual cortex activity synchronizing with lip movement and signal transmission to other areas for sound synthesis.
Research in mice suggests that short chain fatty acid supplementation can improve stroke recovery, reducing motor impairment and increasing spine growth on dendrites. The gut-brain connection plays a crucial role in this process, with microglia activity linked to improved stroke outcome.
Research found that high fat diets limit newborn and developing neurons in adult female mice, but not males, potentially linking metabolic disorders to brain disorders like Alzheimer's disease. The study may inspire metabolism-based preventions and treatments.
Research shows that drawing and recognizing objects recruits the same neural representation in the brain, emphasizing the role of visual processing. This neural connection enhances over time with repeated practice.
Scientists outline 10 simple rules to ensure responsible use of computational modelling in behavioural sciences, avoiding common pitfalls and misinterpretations. The guidelines cover designing effective experiments, generating and validating models, and reporting on analyses.
Research in mice found that environmental enrichment can partially correct mis-mapped neurons in the visual pathway, leading to vision issues in adulthood. Mice raised in enriched environments showed less mapping errors than those in standard cages.
Researchers at the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience found that the cerebellum is involved in higher perceptual abilities beyond motor coordination. The discovery highlights the importance of functioning small brains in social cognition and suggests that problems with the cerebellum may impair aspects of this cognitive function.
The Journal of Dental Research Centennial article 'The Evolution of Neuroscience as a Research Field Relevant to Dentistry' highlights novel insights gained through neuroscience research into pain, sensorimotor disorders and neural pathways. The study reveals the clinical relevance of these findings for diagnosis and management of diso...