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Institut du Cerveau (Paris Brain Institute)


Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, ALS: behind the rising case numbers, distinct dynamics

A study analyzing French and Swedish national health databases reveals a rise in Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and motor neuron diseases' prevalence worldwide. Improved life expectancy and therapies contribute to the increase in multiple sclerosis cases, while population aging is the primary driver of ALS rising incidence.

SourceInstitut du Cerveau (Paris Brain Institute)·JournalNeurology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 8, 2026

Temporal lobe epilepsy: A new strategy to correct abnormal electrical activity

Researchers have identified two compounds that restore chloride balance in neurons, thereby allowing GABAergic signaling to regain its inhibitory function. PCPZ and CLP-257 significantly improved KCC2 efficiency, reducing seizures and other electrical markers of epileptic activity in human brain tissue and animal models.

SourceInstitut du Cerveau (Paris Brain Institute)·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 6, 2026

Not thinking about anything: Toward a brain signature of mind blanking

Mind blanking is characterized by decreased connectivity between neural networks, disrupted visual information processing, and reduced sensory input. The study's findings suggest that being awake does not necessarily mean being conscious of something, and mind blanking corresponds to a genuine interruption in the stream of thoughts.

SourceInstitut du Cerveau (Paris Brain Institute)·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 23, 2025

A multimodal approach to better predict recovery in patients with disorders of consciousness

A new multimodal approach has been developed to predict recovery in patients with disorders of consciousness, combining PET scans, multivariate EEG analysis, functional MRI, and cognitive evoked potentials. The approach shows improved prognostic performance and accuracy compared to standard measurements.

SourceInstitut du Cerveau (Paris Brain Institute)·JournalNature Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateMay 30, 2024

The composition of the gut microbiota could influence decision-making

A study found that individuals taking probiotic supplements showed increased sensitivity to fairness and a greater inclination to reject unequal offers. This was accompanied by changes in gut microbiota composition and levels of dopamine precursors. The findings suggest a potential causal mechanism linking gut bacteria to social behavior.

SourceInstitut du Cerveau (Paris Brain Institute)·JournalPNAS Nexus·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMay 16, 2024

The construction of visual attention highlighted at the neuronal level

Researchers used intracortical recordings to study the neural mechanisms behind exogenous attention, identifying three cortical networks activated in sequence as attention was captured by visual stimuli. The findings suggest a continuum of activity in the cortex, with attention emerging as a bridge between perception and action.

SourceInstitut du Cerveau (Paris Brain Institute)·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 26, 2024

The art of wandering in vertebrates: new mapping of neurons involved in locomotion

Researchers have identified a conserved brain region in vertebrates essential for initiating forward movement. The mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR) stimulates reticulospinal neurons to control finer details of movement. Mapping this circuit could lead to new treatments for Parkinson's disease.

SourceInstitut du Cerveau (Paris Brain Institute)·JournalNature Neuroscience·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 4, 2023

Links between attention and conscious perception highlighted in frontoparietal networks

A recent study revealed that attention plays a crucial role in shaping our conscious experience of the world. Researchers found that manipulating attention can modify an individual's ability to consciously perceive visual stimuli, highlighting the intricate relationship between attention and conscious perception. By using advanced neur...

SourceInstitut du Cerveau (Paris Brain Institute)·JournalCommunications Biology·TypeImaging analysis·DateAug 1, 2023

In bilingual readers, the visual cortex processes Latin and Chinese characters differently

A study found that bilingual readers process Latin and Chinese characters in different ways due to the formation of specialized cortical areas within the Visual Word Form Area (VWFA). In English-Chinese bilinguals, areas were only stimulated by recognition of Chinese logograms, while English-French bilinguals showed equal activation fo...

SourceInstitut du Cerveau (Paris Brain Institute)·JournalScience Advances·TypeImaging analysis·DateApr 5, 2023

Status epilepticus: New inflammatory markers to improve patient care

A new study identifies several cytokine markers associated with poor prognosis in New-Onset Refractory Status Epilepticus (NORSE) patients. The researchers found that the concentration of these inflammatory proteins was higher in NORSE patients than controls, and their increase was correlated with short-term and long-term neurological ...

SourceInstitut du Cerveau (Paris Brain Institute)·JournalAnnals of Neurology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMar 31, 2023

Sensory cells taste cerebrospinal fluid to fight brain infections

Researchers discovered that sensory cells in the spinal cord's central canal can detect bacteria in cerebrospinal fluid and trigger an inflammatory response to fight brain infections. These 'taste' receptors recognize bitter substances, such as those from Streptococcus pneumoniae, and increase cytokine production to combat pathogens.

SourceInstitut du Cerveau (Paris Brain Institute)·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 14, 2023

Inside the brains of procrastinators

A recent study from the Paris Brain Institute has identified a region of the brain where the decision to procrastinate is made: the anterior cingulate cortex. The researchers developed an algorithm to predict participants' tendency to procrastinate, suggesting that procrastination is related to the impact of deadlines on task evaluation.

SourceInstitut du Cerveau (Paris Brain Institute)·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 26, 2022

Decision-making: a new distribution of tasks in our prefrontal cortex?

Researchers propose a new framework for understanding how our prefrontal cortex makes decisions, highlighting the role of ventromedial prefrontal cortex in assigning value to options and medial prefrontal cortex in confidence and deliberation. The study's findings can be generalized to other types of behavior, such as judgments.

SourceInstitut du Cerveau (Paris Brain Institute)·JournalJNeurosci·TypeImaging analysis·DateJun 28, 2022

A better characterization of disinhibition in frontotemporal degeneration

Researchers developed a semi-ecological approach combining behavioral assessment and brain imaging to assess disinhibition in frontotemporal degeneration. The study found that compulsivity and social disinhibition are key components of the symptom, which can be distinguished using neuroanatomical correlates.

SourceInstitut du Cerveau (Paris Brain Institute)·JournalNeuroImage Clinical·TypeObservational study·DateJun 20, 2022

Identification of new risk factors or early signs of Alzheimer's disease

Researchers analyzed health records of nearly 80,000 patients to identify new risk factors for Alzheimer's disease, including depression, anxiety, and hearing loss. The study found that these conditions were associated with an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's up to 15 years before the onset of symptoms.

SourceInstitut du Cerveau (Paris Brain Institute)·JournalThe Lancet Digital Health·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 22, 2022

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 2: a therapeutic trial opens new avenues

A recent clinical trial conducted by Prof. Alexandra Durr's team found that riluzole does not improve symptoms in patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 2, but provided valuable biomarkers for future trials. The study involved 45 patients and revealed a good tolerance and absence of adverse effects.

SourceInstitut du Cerveau (Paris Brain Institute)·JournalThe Lancet Neurology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJan 19, 2022

Sleep, a creativity booster?

Researchers found a specific phase of sleep after falling asleep that triples the chances of finding creative solutions, making it a potential tool for stimulating creativity in everyday life. This discovery opens a new field of study on brain mechanisms of creativity and challenges the common view of sleep as a waste of time.

SourceInstitut du Cerveau (Paris Brain Institute)·JournalScience Advances·DateDec 8, 2021