New studies shed light on sleep's extensive effects on the brain, including impaired memory and judgment, increased risk of stroke, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. Sleep consolidation also plays a crucial role in memory formation.
The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and Green Neuroscience Lab host a symposium to recognize heroes of green and open neuroscience. Award recipients will present their work on open science, environmental sustainability, human-based approaches, neurodiversity, and addressing disparities.
A recent survey of neuroscience research found that the number of studies reporting lab animal sex increased by 30% over four years, but sex bias remained prevalent. Despite this progress, sex omission still affects about 20% of analyzed articles, highlighting the need for improved research design.
A study of two related fruit fly species reveals a single gene regulates behavior for attracting a mate, leading to distinct wooing techniques. The research suggests that the same neurons in both species evolved to generate different behaviors due to acquired gene expression.
A recent study by Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience researchers found that neighboring dendritic spines within a few micrometers of each other share similar functional properties, regardless of the diversity of sensory features they encode. This discovery suggests that local order in dendritic spine functional properties ma...
A new study at Oregon Health & Science University found that brain activity patterns are inherited, with heritable relationships demonstrated within five brain systems. This discovery may lead to personalized and targeted treatment approaches for conditions like ADHD and autism.
The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation awarded nine outstanding scientists for their work in schizophrenia, mood disorders, child and adolescent psychiatry, and cognitive neuroscience. John M. Davis and Deanna L. Kelly were recognized for their innovative research on schizophrenia treatment and prevention.
A new Brown University-developed technology called trans-Tango allows scientists to visualize neural connections in fruit flies, revealing previously unmapped gustatory circuits. The technology enables circuit tracing and has the potential to control circuit functions, expanding its applications in neuroscience.
A new study published in Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience found that human-robot interactions can be tailored to increase patient use. The researchers discovered that people prefer smooth, familiar movements when interacting with robots, which resemble human movements.
Researchers at Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience have developed a new tool called vSLENDR, which enables precise genome editing in post-mitotic neurons of the brain. This breakthrough technology utilizes CRISPR-Cas9 and an adeno-associated virus to increase the efficiency and flexibility of HDR DNA repair.
Scientists have discovered that the thalamus, a deep brain structure, plays a crucial role in regulating critical periods of learning and development. The findings, published in Nature Neuroscience, have important implications for understanding developmental problems such as intellectual disability and albinism.
Researchers will investigate how individual differences in stress response affect escalation of alcohol drinking after traumatic stress, with potential treatments for vulnerable populations. The study aims to identify neurobiological targets for treating alcohol abuse in PTSD patients.
Researchers will use state-of-the-art imaging techniques to gain new insights into neural circuit function, critical for addressing visual and neurological disorders. The grant aims to fill a major gap in understanding how neurons process information, crucial for treating brain-related conditions.
Mice exposed to scents before and shortly after birth show increased responses in specific neurons to various odors. The study demonstrates how early experience shapes the brain's processing of smell, with mice exposed to scented diets displaying heightened mitral cell responses to all presented odors.
Researchers have identified a motor pathway in the sea lamprey that regulates swimming speed, which could be relevant to understanding movement disorders. The study suggests that dysfunction of this pathway may contribute to symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
INRS professors Bernard Giroux and Jinyang Liang receive funding to develop geophysical monitoring tools for environmental risks and real-time brain imaging techniques for studying membrane dynamics in neurons. This research has potential applications in material sciences and optical physics.
Researchers have observed unusual neural activity in some genetically modified lab mice widely used in neuroscience research. This abnormal activity may be linked to the expression of a genetically-encoded calcium sensor during development.
A new study in mice found that transplantation of donor stem cells from human brain tissue can help repair an injured spinal cord. However, the effectiveness of these stem cells is hindered by the body's immune response to injury. Immune cell depletion can improve the recovery outcome for animals receiving transplanted stem cells.
The University of Alberta has acquired a new optical brain-imaging tool called Imagent, which measures brain activity and blood flow non-invasively. This technology allows researchers to study brain function in real-time, with potential implications for job training, professional development, and artificial intelligence.
A new study published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience has found that the harmonic structure of pop songs is linked to their placement in the Billboard Top 100 charts. The research analyzed chord-by-chord transcriptions of 545 songs and found that rare chords and surprising harmonies are key factors in a song's popularity.
A study of healthy young men found that brain reward system activation dips at 2 p.m., contrary to previous research showing peak mood during this time. This timing may impact the treatment of disorders like depression, substance abuse, and sleep disturbances.
A study published in eNeuro found that young rats with access to a running wheel showed improved memory later in life. The results suggest that early life interventions that increase physical activity may help build up cognitive reserve, potentially delaying the onset of neurodegenerative disorders.
Research reveals that testosterone plays a crucial role in regulating canary birdsong by targeting specific brain regions involved in singing. The nucleus of the arcopallium (RA) regulates song unit production, while HVC influences syntactical features such as syllable repetition and trill duration.
A study in eNeuro found that when remembering a sequence of events, the brain focuses on the event paid the least attention. The image that generated the weakest response in the brain during encoding was most strongly replayed during the delay period.
A recent study found that belief in neuromyths, such as seeing letters backwards being a sign of dyslexia, is prevalent among educators, the public, and those with neuroscience training. Training in education and neuroscience helps reduce these false beliefs.
Ryohei Yasuda, Scientific Director of MPFI, received the 2017 Nakaakira Tsukahara Memorial Prize for his groundbreaking work on synaptic plasticity. His research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying neural circuit function and memory formation.
The NeuroNex Technology Hub aims to create new research capabilities using bioengineering technologies, enabling scientists to manipulate and observe brain circuitry. The center's goals include addressing inequities in access to scientific tools and educating high school students.
A team of researchers will use new methods to analyze and interpret neural data, developing theoretical models to understand the underlying mechanisms. The project aims to improve understanding of brain function, even when only a small fraction of cells are directly observed.
The National Science Foundation has awarded $17 million to develop innovative tools and partnerships for understanding the brain. The NeuroNex program will bring together researchers across disciplines to tackle the mysteries of the brain, with a focus on advancing theoretical frameworks and computational modeling.
A new study suggests that an eye test could be a useful tool in diagnosing Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) by assessing the ability of individuals to adapt saccade amplitudes. This test may indicate deficits in the brain's emotional and social development areas, which are often impaired in individuals with ASD.
A study of 100 most-cited neuroscience articles reveals five top research topics: neurological disorders, prefrontal cortex, brain connectivity, brain mapping, and methodology studies. The study allows scientists to quickly identify impactful research in neuroscience.
A study found that underdevelopment of brain networks underlying inhibition in adults over 30 is linked to self-reported psychological problems such as anxiety and depression. The researchers identified patterns of connectivity associated with inhibition that differ between early and middle adulthood.
Neurologists and neurotraumatologists review the science of concussions and outline areas where neuroscience and clinical research can help create consensus. They emphasize the importance of diagnosis in treatment and suggest using animal models to discover better treatment plans.
A new study published in The Journal of Neuroscience found that adolescent mice fed a poor diet lacking omega-3 fatty acids showed increased anxiety-like behavior and poorer memory performance as adults. The study suggests that adequate nutrition during adolescence is crucial for brain refinement and function.
Researchers found that neurons initially rely on many neurons for good prediction of a macaque monkey's decision, but eventually each neuron is maximally predictive as the decision point approaches.
New research reveals the brain is a co-operative continuum for learning and memory, with different regions working together to reduce ambiguity. This understanding could lead to new treatments for cognitive diseases like Alzheimer's, where interference may be the cause of memory loss rather than forgetting.
Research reveals that novelty detection triggers brain states that enhance new memory formation, suggesting a shift in how we make memories. The study's findings have implications for developing novel early warning tests and management strategies for memory impairments like Alzheimer's disease.
Dr. Charles Bourque's research reveals vasopressin's role in regulating body hydration and its link to various health problems, including congestive heart failure and salt-dependent hypertension. The molecule is also involved in feed-forward mechanisms, producing anticipatory signals before sleep and dehydration.
A recent study by Dr. John Peever has found a link between REM sleep disorders and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's Disease and Lewy bodies dementia. The research suggests that sleep disorders may be an early warning sign for these conditions, which can appear up to 15 years later.
A high-fat diet from childhood may increase sensitivity to dopamine later in adulthood, leading to increased reward-seeking behavior. The study found that male rats exhibited increased locomotor activity and dopamine cell activity after a high-fat diet exposure.
Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience researchers optimized imaging methods to visualize CaMKII activation induced by calcium level increases. They found that CaMKII activity spiked in response to each pulse, just like calcium, but with longer-lasting and step-wise patterns that influenced synapse strength and structure.
A new study develops an objective tool to rule out a history of mild head traumas in ageing patients with abnormal cognitive decline. The tool combines markers from brain assessments and may help former athletes sue sports associations for alleged long-term effects.
The University of Texas at Arlington won the 2017 Brain Bowl competition, showcasing expertise in neurophysiology, neuroanatomy, and behavioral neuroscience. The team's victory reflects UTA's leadership in neuroscience research.
Trevor Robbins is honored with the 2017 Gold Medal Award for his fundamental contributions to understanding cortico-striatal function and its role in psychiatric disorders. He has made significant advancements in bridging mechanisms of pathology to new treatments, including developing the CANTAB computerized neuropsychological assessment.
A study of neuroscience papers from 2006-2015 reveals the most productive journals and contributing countries. Psychology and behavioral sciences have become popular research areas, while China's involvement has increased significantly, jumping from 11th to 2nd place in 2015.
A specific class of inhibitory neurons plays a crucial role in encoding spatial information in the brain. The study found that these neurons, which are essential for maintaining precise maps of spatial information, become dysfunctional when they lack a protein called ErbB4, leading to alterations in spatial learning and memory.
Researchers at Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience developed iTango, a light-sensitive technique to visualize and manipulate neuromodulation. The technique allows for increased spatial and temporal precision, enabling the identification of specific neurons impacted by neuromodulation and control over behavior.
The study identified correlations between gene data and brain activity during memory processing, providing new insights into human memory. The researchers found that certain genes are distinct from those previously correlated with other types of cognitive processing and resting state fMRI activity.
Researchers used portable EEG to study social interactions in real-life settings like classrooms and museums, finding that brain synchrony increases with group cohesion and empathy. The studies also showed that eye contact at the beginning of an interaction can influence subsequent brain activity.
Researchers discovered that neurons deep in the brain's cerebellum are highly active during learning, encoding both external and internal information. This finding may shift our understanding of how the cerebellum processes information.
Researchers at Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience developed a photo-inducible CaMKII inhibitor to study intracellular signaling cascades. The tool revealed that CaMKII activation persists for approximately 1 minute, contradicting previous studies, and is necessary only for short periods of time for LTP and animal learning.
Scientists at Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience created new molecular biosensors to study the activity of ERK and PKA proteins in dendritic spines. The team found that these proteins' activity spreads along the length of the dendrite, influencing nearby spines.
A recent study by Georgia State University researchers found that female brains have more active immune cells in pain processing regions. This leads to improved response to opioid pain medication, often less effective in females.
Researchers have developed software to decode digital brain data, enabling rapid progress on the ability to monitor neural activity and understand learning, memory, and cognitive functions. The collaboration has reduced processing time from days to less than a second.
Four NYU faculty members have been awarded Sloan Foundation fellowships for their innovative research, transforming fields such as neuroscience, finance, and chemistry. Jayeeta Basu aims to understand long-term memory formation, while Johannes Stroebel focuses on financial decision-making of households.
Researchers at University of Bristol and UCLan uncover new type of LTP controlled by kainate receptors, promising therapeutic strategies for dementia and epilepsy. The study's findings have far-reaching implications for understanding memory and neurodegenerative disorders.
Researchers at Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience developed a new software to automate the process of observing and quantifying long-term structural plasticity in dendritic spines. The software allows for efficient imaging and stimulation of multiple dendritic spines simultaneously, increasing productivity and reducing costs.
A consumer EEG device is generating valuable data for neuroscience research, revealing new information on what happens to our thinking processes as we age. The device's large-scale data collection has enabled scientists to study the brain in the real world, shedding light on sex differences and cognitive functions.
A study published in PLOS Computational Biology used the Atari 2600 console and Donkey Kong game to analyze the brain's neural networks. The researchers found that existing neuroscience techniques do not provide a meaningful understanding of the system.
Researchers at Northwestern University's Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory have discovered a biological marker in the auditory system that can reliably diagnose concussions. The study found that children who suffered concussions had a distinct pattern in their brain activity when exposed to sound, which could be used to identify them.