Adolescent cannabis use linked to impairments in working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive function. Cannabis exposure also associated with schizophrenia-like effects and affective abnormalities.
Researchers are using novel experimental approaches to understand autism spectrum disorder, including studying networks of interacting genes and protein regulation. These studies aim to identify common molecular mechanisms underlying the disorder, which could lead to new treatments.
Dr. Blake Richards has made significant contributions to mathematical models of learning and memory in the brain, providing insights into the neurobiological basis of animal and human intelligence. His work explores the neural basis of deep learning and its potential to revolutionize our understanding of the brain.
Research by Dr. Fernanda De Felice reveals a disease mechanism common to Alzheimer's disease and Type 2 diabetes, leading to new strategies for preserving brain health. The discovery identifies a pathway causing inflammation in the brain, affecting insulin signaling and endoplasmic reticulum stress.
Astrocytes and pericytes work together to regenerate cerebral blood vessels in brain regions damaged by stroke. New blood vessels form at the interface between these cells, re-establishing normal blood flow within weeks.
A Canadian research team has discovered how brain stem cells collaborate to build brain circuits during development. This understanding may lead to new treatments for neurodevelopmental disorders in children. The study also suggests that manipulating these brain-resident stem cells could promote brain repair.
A study by Stephanie Borgland found that rats eating a 'cafeteria-diet' of high-fat and high-sugar foods developed brain changes in the orbitofrontal cortex, leading to increased motivation to eat despite satiety. Obesity was also observed, highlighting the complex mechanisms behind food attraction.
Researchers studied rats' performance in a cognitive effort task, finding that brain regions involved in emotional responses and translating emotions into actions play key roles in decision-making. The study's findings have implications for understanding psychiatric disorders associated with defects in decision making.
Research finds child abuse alters gene expression and myelin layer thickness in brain's Anterior Cingulate Cortex, a key region for mood regulation. This modification may underlie increased vulnerability to depression and other mood disorders in abused individuals.
Dr. Karun Singh is a leader in stem cell research, human genetics and brain development. His work has made significant impact on our knowledge of signaling mechanisms that regulate brain development and genetic risk factors underlying neurodevelopmental disorders.
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.
Recent discoveries shed light on the mechanism underlying neuropathic pain, revealing a reduced inhibition of pain signal transmission due to dysregulation of chloride levels. This leads to hyperexcitability in neurons, causing touch-evoked pain.
New research by Dr. Steven Laviolette suggests that opiate-induced changes in brain circuits can be reversed, targeting dopamine signalling and protein adaptations to prevent or reverse addiction. The findings aim to inform approaches to addiction treatment and develop more effective pharmacological interventions.
The study reveals that mutations in the enzyme DHHC9 lead to reduced neuron growth, branching, and excitability, while affecting inhibitory synapse formation. This understanding can help identify novel therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases.
Matthew Hill's research has deepened understanding of how the brain responds to stress, highlighting the crucial role of the endocannabinoid system. His work demonstrates that enhancing this system can reduce anxiety and improve coping responses to stress.
Researchers have identified molecules associated with Alzheimer's disease as crucial players in long-term depression, a process that weakens synapse connections. These findings suggest potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Dr. Min Zhuo's team identified a molecule that can reduce chronic pain-related anxiety by blocking pre-LTP in neurons of the ACC, which mediates anxiety. The study reveals the biological basis for the link between pain and anxiety, with implications for treating both conditions.
Researchers have identified a key role for microglia in the development of chronic pain, including hyperalgesia and allodynia. Microglia-to-neuron signaling is crucial for these effects, which could lead to new treatments for chronic pain.
New research by Dr. Liisa Galea suggests that previous motherhood permanently alters the brain's response to hormone therapy, with estradiol-based HT showing beneficial effects and estrone-based HT having detrimental effects on cognition and dementia risk in women.
Research by Dr. Christopher Pack suggests brain activity oscillations have a role in resetting sensitivity of neurons after eye movements and supporting representation of space. These patterns allow for rapid neural communication across different spatial positions.
Research by Dr. Mel Goodale shows that blind echolocation experts recruit regions of the brain associated with visual perception when making echo-based assessments of objects. They can also perceive material properties such as hardness and density through auditory cues, an effective form of sensory substitution for vision.
Dr. Michael Gordon's research focuses on understanding neural circuits that drive taste responses and feeding preferences in fruit flies. His studies have shown that food preference can be viewed as a changing metric based on initial taste, experience, and physiological condition.
Recent studies have shown that memory is composed of two distinct forms: episodic memory, dependent on the hippocampus, and semantic memory, reliant on the neocortex. The 'multiple trace/transformation theory' proposes that memories are re-encoded with each retrieval, leading to a transformation from context-rich to general memory.
Dr. Ingrid Johnsrude's research reveals that brain regions beyond primary auditory cortex play a crucial role in understanding speech, especially in noisy environments. The study also highlights the critical role of attention and prior knowledge in facilitating comprehension.
Research by Stan Floresco reveals the dynamic competition between brain regions to inform decisions. The frontal lobes temper impulses towards larger, uncertain rewards, while dopamine neurons provide short-term updates on recent outcomes.
A new study has shed light on the role of dopamine-dependent reinforcement signals in the nucleus accumbens, a region connected to pleasure seeking and drug addiction. The research, using optogenetics, reveals how glutamate-dependent signals from other brain regions interact with these signals.
Blocking extrasynaptic NMDA receptors may improve motor learning, coordination and prevent cell death in animal models of Huntington disease. This finding could lead to new treatment avenues for neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and traumatic brain injury.
Drs. Brian E Chen and Stephanie L Borgland were awarded the CAN Young Investigator Award for their innovative work in neuroscience, with Dr. Chen studying brain wiring encoded in DNA and Dr. Borgland exploring neural mechanisms behind addiction and obesity.
A new imaging technique developed by Jean Gotman and his colleagues combines electroencephalogram (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to more precisely localize the areas generating epileptic seizures. This allows neurosurgeons to better understand the optimal ways of intervention for patients with epilepsy.
Dr. Peter Williamson's research reveals distinct neural networks affected by different psychiatric diseases, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression. The study uses advanced imaging techniques to uncover differences between patients and healthy individuals.
Researchers suggest that food addiction could explain the current global obesity epidemic, with high-fructose corn syrup causing behavioural reactions similar to those produced by cocaine. Dr. Leri's study found shared vulnerability to develop preferences for sweet foods and cocaine in laboratory animals.
New research shows that craving drugs like nicotine can be visualized in specific brain regions, suggesting abnormal interactions between decision-making brain areas could underlie addiction. Dr. Alain Dagher's study found that the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex regulates cigarette craving in response to drug cues.
Dr. Shayna Rosenbaum's research focuses on the neural bases of learning and memory, particularly in patients with memory impairment. Her work has provided a framework for understanding how memory is organized in the brain and the efficacy of intervention techniques when memory declines or fails.