A study at UT Southwestern Medical Center has identified over 100 genes linked to memory processing in the human brain. The researchers hope that these findings will lead to better understanding and treatment of conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and epilepsy.
In a breakthrough study, Johns Hopkins researchers identified a new way that the brain communicates with the immune system, using vesicles and small fat-like molecules to send signals. This discovery may lead to the development of new treatments for brain injuries by targeting the inflammatory response.
A new Cornell University study has resolved the debate on brain evolution by determining that overall brain size accounts for most differences among vertebrate species. The research found that once a species evolves a larger brain, specialized neural networks develop in brain regions controlling specific behaviors.
Scientists at the University of Queensland have identified a new type of lymphatic brain cell in zebrafish that surrounds the brain and clears damaging cellular waste. This discovery provides insight into how the brain forms and functions, potentially leading to new treatments for neurological diseases like stroke and dementia.
A new research from the National Institutes of Health found that pairing antidepressant amitriptyline with central nervous system drugs enhances drug delivery to the brain. Amitriptyline temporarily inhibits the blood-brain barrier, allowing drugs to enter the brain.
After a head injury, the brain can form new connections between damaged areas, known as hyperconnections. While this adaptation may provide short-term benefits, it can also lead to chronic inefficiencies and strain the brain's resources. Chronic inefficiencies may cascade into serious brain disorders, including Alzheimer's Disease.
Researchers developed organoids that resemble human brain structure, investigating rare congenital brain defect Miller-Dieker syndrome. The study reveals disrupted stem cell division leading to poor organization and early differentiation of nerve cells.
Researchers at Imperial College London found that applying a low voltage current can bring different areas of the brain in sync, enabling people to perform better on tasks involving working memory. The approach could one day be used to treat conditions such as traumatic brain injury, stroke, and epilepsy.
A new mechanism by which inflammation can spread throughout the brain after injury has been identified. The findings may explain chronic and long-lasting inflammation that occurs after traumatic brain injury and could transform understanding of brain injury and disease.
Researchers compared stereotactic radiosurgery to whole-brain radiation for metastatic brain tumors and found that targeted therapy reduces cognitive decline and increases median survival rate by 218 days
A large imaging study of over 3200 people confirms that Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is associated with delayed development of five brain regions, supporting the notion that it is a brain disorder. The study found differences in brain volume across all age groups, but most pronounced in children.
Researchers at CU Boulder have developed a functional MRI-based model that identifies brain activity patterns involved in varied pain experiences. The model, called SIIPS1, maps positively correlated and negatively correlated brain sub-regions, including regions not traditionally considered important for pain assessment.
Researchers have successfully manipulated optogenetics and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to capture large-scale brain-wide neural activity propagation and interaction dynamics. The study revealed dynamic network wiring in the mammalian species, challenging previous assumptions about brain connectivity.
Researchers at Uppsala University developed a new antibody design that increases brain uptake of antibodies almost 100-fold, offering new opportunities for treating brain diseases. The modified antibodies use the transferrin receptor to transport them across the blood-brain barrier.
Researchers found that older, fitter adults outperformed younger counterparts in memory tasks, with increased brain activity observed in regions typically declining with age. This suggests that cardiorespiratory fitness may contribute to brain maintenance and serve a compensatory role in age-related memory decline.
A recent study published in Neurology found that adhering to a Mediterranean diet can help maintain brain volume in older adults. The study, which followed 967 Scottish people aged 70 for three years, revealed that those who followed the diet more closely retained more brain volume than those who did not.
Research shows that brain maturation varies by individual and region, making it difficult to pinpoint a static baseline for maturity. Leah Somerville highlights the importance of considering brain development in policy-making decisions.
Brain connections critical for complex thinking skills deteriorate with age, while movement and hearing connections remain relatively well-preserved. Researchers analyzed brain scans from over 3,500 people aged 45-75 to understand aging's effects on the brain.
A study analyzing brain region connectivity found that people with more flexible brain states perform better on executive-function tasks. The researchers discovered five general brain patterns, with those in the most flexible states excelling in high-level cognition.
Researchers develop space-division multiplexing optical coherence tomography (SDM-OCT) to image single neurons in live tissue, enabling label-free and depth-resolved images of neural activity. This breakthrough technology could revolutionize brain mapping and provide insights into brain disorders such as Alzheimer's and schizophrenia.
A new imaging technique has confirmed that each person's brain structure is unique, allowing for nearly perfect identification. The study also shows the brain's unique pattern changes over time.
New research found that seizures and tumor location are key predictors of survival for patients over 70 with brain tumors. The study also revealed that those with higher pressure on the brain tend to have shorter survival times.
The NIH has increased its investment in the BRAIN Initiative to over $150 million, supporting 170 researchers at 60 institutions. This funding will help develop new tools and technologies to understand neural circuit function and capture brain activity.
A new tool developed at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory enables researchers to interactively explore brain hierarchical processes and shed light on neurological diseases like Alzheimer's. Brain Modulyzer combines multiple views of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data to provide context for brain connectivity data.
A massive MRI study identified seven genetic hotspots regulating brain growth, memory, and reasoning, as well as predicting the onset of Parkinson's disease. The research supports the notion that brain size can be used to measure 'brain reserve' and promote resilience to age-related brain diseases.
Researchers at Binghamton University studied brain activity in over 450 children ages 7 to 11, finding significant changes in brain signal complexity from year to year, particularly in frontal brain regions. These changes can potentially benchmark normative brain development and help identify early warning signs for mental illness.
Researchers found that whole brain radiotherapy had no beneficial effect on survival or quality of life compared to best supportive care and steroids. The trial included 538 patients with non-small cell lung cancer who had spread to the brain, and showed that WBRT did not extend survival or improve quality of life.
Researchers are uniting to tackle the complex challenge of understanding brain function through large-scale computational modeling. This approach aims to improve our knowledge of brain function by creating realistic models based on biological data.
A phase 2 clinical trial suggests that intravenous glyburide treatment may improve patient outcomes after a major stroke by reducing brain injury and death. The study found a significant reduction in brain imaging measures of midline shift, as well as lower levels of MMP-9, a biomarker associated with brain swelling.
Researchers found that omega-3 fatty acids reduced brain damage in mice with hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. The study suggests that injecting DHA after a stroke-like event can protect brain mitochondria against free radical damage.
Researchers found brain activity patterns varied with brain region and circadian rhythms, affecting performance and psychiatric symptoms. The study sheds light on why shift workers struggle to concentrate and why sleep loss impacts attention.
Researchers found that newborn mice brain's neural activity does not trigger a corresponding boost in blood flow, unlike the adult brain. The study reveals how the growing brain feeds itself and sheds new light on brain development.
Researchers at Simon Fraser University have developed a simple way to measure brain health over time using non-invasive electrodes, tracking the brain's electrical activity for key functions. This breakthrough technology makes it possible to translate complex brainwaves into objective and practical brain vital signs.
A new study published in Radiology found increased blood-brain barrier permeability in people with early Alzheimer's disease. The researchers used contrast-enhanced MRI to identify leakages in the BBB, which could represent a key mechanism in the early stages of the disease.
Researchers at Rockefeller University have developed a new technique that captures the activity of an entire mouse brain in a single snapshot. This comprehensive view allows for robust and unbiased comparisons between active neuronal populations, enabling hypothesis generation about brain function.
Researchers create a detailed semantic atlas of the brain's language processing areas, revealing similarities in semantic topography across individuals. The study has potential applications in brain-machine interfaces, decoding difficult-to-speak patients, and translating languages.
Researchers at Duke-NUS Medical School have derived a structural model of the Mfsd2a transporter, which could help treat neurological disorders like glioblastoma by bypassing the blood-brain barrier. The study identifies new binding features and provides insight into the transport mechanism of Mfsd2a.
A study found that propofol, a commonly used anesthetic, induces loss of responsiveness by diminishing brain connectivity in the frontal cortex. The researchers also observed significant changes in resting state brain networks.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have identified specific neural systems used to encode new scientific concepts. The study shows that the brain repurposes existing neural structures to form new knowledge, enabling humans to learn abstract ideas.
Researchers from Imperial College London have visualized the effects of LSD on the human brain for the first time, revealing complex changes in brain activity that underlie psychedelic experiences. The study found that LSD alters the way brain networks process information, leading to a more integrated and unified brain state.
A recent study published in Frontiers in Neural Circuits identified specific brain areas that may contribute to stress-induced depression. The research found that mice displaying 'helpless' behavior had reduced neuronal activation and stereotypical brain-wide activity patterns, which are distinct from those showing 'resilient' behavior.
Researchers at the University of Miami studied dynamic functional network connectivity in the insular cortex, revealing unique and overlapping profiles of its subdivisions. The findings suggest that changes in connection patterns between brain areas may contribute to the region's flexibility in multiple cognitive processes.
Researchers have mapped the largest network of cortical neurons to date, shedding light on how brain circuits are organized. The study reveals modular architecture and functional specific connectivity between neurons, enabling reverse engineering of the brain's structure and function.
Researchers used optogenetics to temporarily disconnect long-range axons, shedding light on the brain's internal communication. This study contributes to a better understanding of brain connectivity and its role in mental health diseases.
Researchers discovered that estrogen-producing glial cells play a role in controlling inflammation in the injured zebra finch brain. The process happens within hours and could lead to new therapies for human brain injuries such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease.
Researchers found that brain swelling in mice with experimental cerebral malaria starts in the olfactory bulb and spreads along a specific path called the rostral migratory stream. This path is used by immature nerve cells and immune cells, allowing the progression of inflammation into the central nervous system.
Researchers at Imperial College London found that the brain processes large numbers in the left side of the brain and small numbers on the right. The study's findings could lead to more effective rehabilitation techniques for patients with brain damage and treatments for conditions like dyscalculia.
Researchers have developed a cooling technique that protects the brain's speech centers during surgery and identifies specific areas responsible for word formation and speech timing. The study used focal cooling to map brain functions, including speech ability, and found distinct roles for specific brain regions in forming words.
A new report from the American Brain Tumor Association reveals that malignant brain tumors are the most common cause of cancer-related deaths in adolescents and young adults aged 15-39. The study, which analyzed data from 2008-2012, also found a shift towards high-grade tumors with increasing age.
Researchers have found that laser ablation creates a temporary opening in the blood-brain barrier, allowing chemotherapy drugs to pass into the brain. This breakthrough raises hopes for longer treatment options and improved patient outcomes.
Research suggests that starting age of marijuana use can impact brain structures responsible for judgment, reasoning, and complex thinking. Heavy marijuana users who began using before age 16 showed arrested brain development, while those who started after 16 demonstrated accelerated brain aging.
UNSW researchers have identified a link between the physical structure of brains and spontaneous patterns of brain function at rest. The study uses harmonic waves to explain how brain shape influences resting brain activity, which could lead to new diagnosis techniques for disorders of consciousness.
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have created a novel cell line to screen brain drugs, mimicking the blood-brain barrier's impermeability. This tool may accelerate the development of improved treatments for brain diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
The study found that microglia, the brain's immune system, rapidly repair damage to the blood-brain barrier after breaches. This process could be impaired by certain cardiovascular drugs intended to prevent stroke-related damage.
The study visualizes the human brain's neural anatomy, revealing previously unidentified connections between the brainstem and forebrain. These connections support the concept of an integrated central homeostatic network in the brain.
Researchers at Penn State College of Medicine have developed a new nanotechnology approach using 'smart fat cells' that can pass the blood-brain barrier to detect early-stage brain tumors. This breakthrough could transform gliomas from a death sentence into a treatable condition, enabling patients to receive timely treatment.
Using 20 years of fMRI data, researchers found that cognitive function and abstract thought exist as an agglomeration of many cortical sources. They developed a geometry-based method to analyze brain activity, revealing a hierarchy of abstraction related to the connectome structure of the whole human brain.
Research identifies abnormal cell cycle gene activity as a common underlying factor for brain overgrowth and undergrowth in autistic toddlers. The study found that disruptions in cell cycle networks, which control prenatal neuron production, contribute to abnormal early brain growth.
Research reveals LSD reduces connectivity within brain networks, disrupting synchronization of neural firing patterns. This change affects the underlying thought and behavior processes in humans.
A new study identified three main brain regions where abnormalities are common to all types of focal epilepsy. The findings, published in Brain Connectivity, provide valuable insights into the neural networks underlying this neurological condition.