Researchers found that combining imagery with observation strengthens brain activity in movement-related areas, potentially aiding motor function recovery for stroke patients. The technique may help compensate for lost brain functions through brain plasticity.
A new study from City University London found that eye movement analysis can detect diseases like glaucoma while watching TV. This method could help clinicians identify the disease earlier, enabling timely treatment before permanent damage occurs.
Researchers found that people prefer leaders with a healthy complexion, regardless of intelligence level, except for situations requiring negotiation or exploration. A study of 148 participants revealed that health is the most important trait when selecting a leader, surpassing intelligence as an optional extra.
Energy drinks have been linked to high caffeine levels, which can cause heart palpitations, hypertension, nausea, and vomiting. Mixing energy drinks with alcohol is also a significant risk factor for adverse health effects.
The Mediterranean is invaded by over 1,000 alien species, including fish and algae, threatening native biodiversity. Invasive species disrupt delicate balances in ecosystems, causing devastating effects on animal species.
A diet of junk food reduces rats' preference for novel foods and leads to overeating and obesity. Researchers found that the brain's reward circuitry is affected by excessive consumption of junk food.
A survey of over 200 non-tenure-track academics found that nearly one-third experience stress due to lack of job security, with women and underrepresented groups more affected. The authors call for universities to address these issues to improve faculty wellbeing and student outcomes.
Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine is a new open-access journal publishing peer-reviewed articles on cardiovascular disease diagnosis, treatment, and pathogenesis. The journal provides unrestricted access to current information for clinicians and medical educators worldwide.
Researchers recorded record-breaking solar ultraviolet radiation in the Bolivian Andes, significantly higher than normal levels. This extreme radiation is comparable to those found on early Mars and poses a threat to local ecosystems.
Four species, including a bacterium and wasp, share the same odor signal to exploit their prey, demonstrating complex communication networks in nature. The study highlights the role of volatile organic compounds in facilitating predator-prey relationships between different species.
A new study finds that the brain of children with gender dysphoria reacts to androstadienone, a male musk-like steroid, in a way typical of their biological sex at puberty, but shifts to their experienced gender afterwards. This suggests a partial rewiring of the brain as children grow up.
Frontiers introduces a new open-access journal, covering robotics and artificial intelligence. The journal will utilize the Frontiers open-science platform to facilitate research networking and knowledge sharing.
A recent review warns of the dangers of smart drugs on young people's developing brains, highlighting the potential for long-term impairments and decreased brain plasticity. Methylphenidate and modafinil, two popular smart drugs, have been found to cause these effects in young brains.
Frontiers in Nutrition is a new open-access journal launching to tackle global malnutrition and obesity. The journal aims to provide an integrated platform for exchange of science and ideas from various perspectives.
Research reveals that female lizards' bright orange patches on their underbellies signal peak fertility to males, attracting them with showy behavior. Males also exhibit aggressive behavior towards pregnant females, which can be deterred by the females' display of bright orange color.
The new journal Frontiers in Materials will utilize the unique Frontiers platform for open-access publishing and research networking. The mission is to empower researchers by promoting constructive criticism and fair evaluation of their work. Key sections for submissions include Biomaterials.
A recent study reveals the unique way honeybees process information from both front tarsi to decide whether to feed, highlighting the importance of their sense of taste in finding nectar and pollen. The sensitivity of their claws and tarsomeres plays a crucial role in detecting sweet and salty substances.
A comprehensive study of 650,000 Americans reveals significant disparities in access to preventive dental care among ethnic groups. Despite an increase in preventative dental care uptake over a decade, 23-43% of Americans received no care in 2008, depending on ethnicity.
A recent study found that wolves and dogs can learn where to find food by observing a human or dog demonstrator. This suggests that the ability to learn from others was already present in wolf ancestors, which prehistoric humans could then build on. The researchers' findings provide new insights into the domestication of dogs.
The new journal will cover a range of topics in ecology and evolution, including agroecology, behavioral and evolutionary ecology, and phylogenetics. It will be an interdisciplinary platform for researchers to share their findings, with open access publishing and fast publication.
Researchers followed 80 child synesthetes over 4 years, observing development of strong associations for around 50% of graphemes by age 7. The study also found that some children's synesthesia disappears as they grow older, likely due to changes in brain organization.
A new study found that children with stronger empathy skills are better at recognizing sarcasm. Children began to detect sarcasm between ages 6 and 8, but some took longer to develop this skill. Empathy skills were measured using eye gaze and reaction time during a task that required recognizing sarcastic language.
Researchers have discovered pollen grains from direct ancestors of flowering plants, dating back 240 million years to the Early Triassic. The findings suggest that flowering plants may have evolved up to 100 million years earlier than previously thought.
A neuroimaging study found that individuals with psychopathy fail to activate brain areas associated with empathy and concern for others when imagining others in pain. This atypical pattern of activation suggests that psychopaths may not care for others, but could be triggered into emotional response through cognitive-behavior therapies.
Researchers found that Facebook users' intensity of use is predicted by activity in the nucleus accumbens, a region involved in processing rewards and reputation. The study suggests social media use may be linked to changes in brain function related to reputation and self-image.
Frontiers' new journal in Energy Research will publish rigorously peer-reviewed articles on various topics related to energy systems, including nanotechnology solutions, policies, and storage. The journal aims to provide a free-to-access platform for researchers to share their findings with the scientific community.
Researchers at EPFL discovered that Full Body Illusions can be accompanied by a decrease in skin temperature, which is highly significant but small. The study used 3D head-mounted displays and robotic devices to induce the illusion, leading to widespread brain activity changes.
Researchers found that choir members' heart rates synchronize when singing in unison, with a direct link between melody and cardiac activity. This effect is similar to controlled breathing exercises, which regulate vagus nerve activity.
Scientists have identified key motor behaviors and interventions that can help non-verbal autistic children learn to speak. Motor mimicking behavior plays a crucial role in language development, and picture exchange training has shown promising results.
A systematic review found that yoga has positive effects on mild depression and sleep complaints, as well as improving symptoms associated with schizophrenia and ADHD in patients on medication. The review of over 100 studies highlighted the benefits of yoga for mental health illnesses, except for eating disorders and cognition problems.
Researchers have discovered a rapid and reliable test using next-generation real-time PCR systems to detect Shiga toxin-producing E. coli in ground beef. This new method is expected to increase food safety by providing faster, easier, and more reproducible results.
A recent fMRI study published by David Eagleman in Frontiers found that ordinal sequences, such as numbers, have a strong spatial quality and stimulate less brain activity than non-ordinal sequences. This suggests that the brain can predict and process familiar sequences more efficiently, leading to reduced neural activity.
A study published in Frontiers in Neuroscience found that musical duets show coordinated brain oscillations, even when playing different voices of the same song. This suggests a direct neural basis for interpersonal coordination, with synchronized brain activity observed in regions associated with social cognition and music production.
A new study published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience found that children from low socioeconomic status work harder to filter out irrelevant environmental information than those from a high-income background. This is due to learned differences in what they pay attention to, which requires more mental effort.
Researchers successfully streamed braille patterns directly into a blind patient's retina using the Argus II device. The patient accurately read four-letter words and showed excellent spatial resolution, demonstrating the potential for improved reading capabilities with future iterations of the implant.
A comprehensive report reveals that incarceration rates for African American males are a major contributor to health problems, substance abuse, and economic disparities. The study suggests that investing more resources in education and treatment could significantly reduce these costs and improve lives.
Researchers found that cannabis users with schizophrenia have higher brain activity and correct answers than those without prior cannabis use. The study suggests that cannabis use can imitate the cognitive weakness leading to schizophrenia in non-psychotic individuals.
A recent study published in Frontiers found that veterans who smoke are more likely to experience cognitive impairment and are at a higher risk of relapse. The research controlled for genetic variables and showed that smokers performed worse on measures of learning, memory, and processing speed compared to non-smokers.