Research highlights sleep's role in shaping memory, learning, and behavior, with implications for dementia, obesity, and mental health. Sleep deprivation poses significant risks to these areas, emphasizing the importance of a good night's rest.
Researchers have made significant progress in developing new diagnostic tools and treatments for Alzheimer's disease. Changes in brain function can be detected years before symptoms appear, using PET scans, and a new antibody probe could lead to an early detection test.
New animal studies demonstrate potential for stem cell treatments in Parkinson's disease, head trauma and spinal cord injury-related heart problems. Scientists are making progress toward using stem cells to repair neurological damage and produce healthy neurons.
Researchers have identified potential therapies for managing spinal cord injury aftereffects, including deep brain stimulation, electric pulses, and social contact. Studies suggest these methods can repair nervous system damage and reduce chronic health conditions, offering new hope for those affected by SCI.
New research reveals connections between adolescent brain development and emotional regulation, cognition, and social skills, highlighting potential vulnerabilities and opportunities for growth during the teen years.
Facial mimicry plays a crucial role in deciphering ambiguous smiles, establishing power dynamics, and evoking emotions. The study also highlights the neurological basis of early interactions between parents and infants with cleft lip.
New studies using transgenic mice to detect landmines and test dietary supplements for brain injuries show promise in reducing trauma and suffering. Scientists are gaining better understanding of brain damage from injuries, potentially leading to effective early intervention and practical applications.
Researchers identified molecular pathway associated with schizophrenia, potentially leading to new treatment options. The study found that a protein called Serca2 is elevated in people with schizophrenia and those with a rare genetic disorder, suggesting a novel therapeutic target.
A new human study suggests that dopamine levels in the brain play a crucial role in determining how hard people work. Individuals with higher dopamine activity in certain areas showed greater motivation and effort, while those with increased dopamine in other areas were less likely to exert effort.
Researchers found aged mice showed disrupted sleep behavior and weakened brain network activity in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), a brain area responsible for setting sleep-wake cycles. Individual SCN cells also exhibited more severe changes, suggesting a new understanding of aging's effects on the brain.
A cholesterol drug commonly prescribed to reduce cardiovascular disease risk restores blood vessel function in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. The drug also improves learning and memory in adult mice, but not aged mice.
A cancer compound called epothilone D has been found to slow neurological damage and improve memory in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. The treatment prevented tau tangle formation and improved learning and memory tests, suggesting potential therapeutic benefits.
A study suggests deleting a protein that regulates nerve cell growth can increase new nerve cells and speed up antidepressant effects, potentially offering a novel therapeutic approach for depression. The research found that mice without this protein showed improved symptoms of depression and anxiety even without medication.
A study found that blocking a protein called AMPK helps increase animal mobility and reduce nerve cell death in animal models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The findings suggest energy deficits may contribute to neurodegenerative disorders like ALS, offering new directions for treatment.
Researchers used genetic tools to investigate how stress affects brain function and identify potential targets for treating stress-related disorders. The study provides clues on how different types of stress alter genes and brain function, shedding light on behavior and mood changes in stress-related illnesses.
Recent studies shed light on how brain structure, genes, and chemicals interact to affect behavior in individuals with autism and fragile X syndrome. The research findings offer new tools for understanding these conditions, paving the way for effective education, early intervention, and potential treatments.
A recent study reveals the underlying physical causes of mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety. The findings suggest that early-life depression and anxiety can alter the structure of the developing brain.
Studies highlight brain's resiliency to damage from stroke and premature birth, proposing ways to prevent or limit harm with new treatments on the horizon.
Researchers are discovering promising treatments for pain, including mirror box therapy and a new opioid-like drug that relieves acute pain without euphoric effects. The studies also identify the neurobiological source of common morphine side effects.
Studies show how brain structure, genes, and chemicals interact to affect behavior in children with neurodevelopmental disorders. New findings suggest potential therapeutic targets for conditions like fragile X syndrome and bipolar disorder.
Research identifies regions and functions of the brain involved in risk-taking decisions, shedding light on mechanisms driving economic behavior. The findings have potential applications for treating brain disorders characterized by poor decision-making.
Research demonstrates that life experiences can be transmitted from one generation to the next through epigenetics, affecting brain plasticity and behavior. This new knowledge has implications for understanding the cognitive benefits of motherhood and how environmental factors influence brain development in offspring.
Studies suggest that physical activity, hormone therapy, and social engagement can boost brain health in older adults, reducing memory loss and decision-making problems.
Studies explore the influence of changes in brain structure, function, or both on human behavior and learning. Research findings may lead to effective interventions and treatments for brain diseases and conditions affecting memory.
A study suggests that alternating between learning and unlearning an unusual walking pattern on a split-belt treadmill can improve motor learning in healthy adults. This approach may help patients relearn how to walk after stroke or injury, improving therapeutic outcomes.
Researchers discovered a mutated version of human APP, which causes rapid death of olfactory nerve cells. The study suggests that reducing APP production may prevent or reverse cell death and dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) stimulates specific brain regions to produce new cells that enhance memory. In a mouse study, DBS led to a two-fold increase in new cells in the hippocampus, which improved spatial learning and memory.
A new study suggests that moderate exercise can prevent age-related memory loss after a bacterial infection. Researchers found that older rats who ran on an exercise wheel showed improved cognitive function and reduced inflammation in the hippocampus compared to non-exercising rats.
A recent study found that HIV infection in astrocytes breaks down the blood-brain barrier, leading to cognitive impairment and other neurological complications. The researchers suggest that minute numbers of infected astrocytes can trigger a cascade of signals that open the brain to toxic influences.
Researchers discovered that male voles in established relationships displayed less interest in amphetamine compared to single counterparts. The study found changes in the brain's reward system depending on relationship status, with paired voles showing reduced D1 receptor binding and increased dopamine release.
The Society for Neuroscience has launched BrainFacts.org, a nonprofit online source providing authoritative public information about brain research, thanks to $1.53 million in funding. The site will offer interactive content, multimedia resources, and accurate information on brain diseases, disorders, and health promotion.
Researchers have identified brain changes in people with Alzheimer's disease, suggesting new diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets. These findings may help identify individuals at risk and improve early detection, potentially leading to more treatable stages of the disease.
Researchers have identified the brain region responsible for the McGurk Effect, an auditory phenomenon where viewing lips moving out of sync with words creates a perception of other words. Synesthetes' brains show distinct structures and processes, indicating that synesthetic experiences are more idiosyncratic than previously thought.
A new study offers valuable insights into the complex brain circuitry involved in communication, shedding light on language difficulties such as stuttering. The research suggests that the brain's processing and production of sounds, as well as its handling of native and foreign accents, are critical factors in communication problems.
Studies show that mild sensory stimulation can protect against brain damage and restore function after stroke, while aerobic exercise may help treat or prevent drug addiction. Additionally, physical fitness prior to injury can alleviate traumatic brain injury effects in mice.
Animal studies suggest that the stress response, immune system, and regulation of nerve cell signals may play important roles in depression. The findings highlight the need for new treatment targets and approaches to help those not responding to existing therapies.
Research reveals that teenagers' brains respond differently to drugs than adults, with greater cognitive shortfalls and altered stress responses. Long-term effects of adolescent drug use on brain chemistry are also being explored.
New brain machine technologies show promise in restoring vision, controlling prosthetics with thoughts, and regaining limb function after injury. An artificial retina may restore vision more effectively than existing prosthetics.
Researchers track how brains navigate and remember settings using video game-inspired technologies. Studies show that speed of exploration alters memories, while exercise in virtual environments improves stroke patients' arm function.
New human research suggests oxytocin influences feelings of well-being, sensitivity to advertising, trust, empathy, and reduces anxiety in stressed animals. Oxytocin is linked to happiness, resilient individuals are less likely to be depressed.
Studies show that prenatal drug exposure, maternal smoking, and early-life infections can alter brain development, increasing the risk of learning disabilities, behavioral problems, and mental disorders. The research highlights the importance of educating mothers on avoiding harmful substances during pregnancy.
Research reveals high-fat diets cause lasting brain changes impairing healthy eating. Food and drugs of abuse engage the same brain systems, highlighting potential treatments for obesity and addiction.
New research reveals how diet affects brain chemistry, influencing behavior and physiological changes related to obesity. Studies show that high-fat diets can lead to addictive-like behaviors, reduced insulin sensitivity, and impaired brain development in offspring.
Researchers have developed two experimental treatments that restored some vision to people with blinding eye diseases. A retinal prosthesis and fetal tissue transplant showed promise in human studies, improving visual acuity in several individuals with retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration.
Researchers have discovered a diet high in fat can accelerate spinal cord injury recovery, while stem cell implants pre-screened for immature cells show promising results. The findings offer new hope for the over one million people affected by spinal cord injuries in North America.
Research using animal models has identified key brain cells and circuits affected by addiction, shedding light on the cognitive problems associated with it. These findings may lead to more effective treatment options to weaken powerful cravings, ultimately guarding against relapse.
Researchers use optogentics to explore brain function in normal and pathological conditions. New findings suggest musical training enhances auditory skills and diagnostic treatments for hearing disorders.
Researchers uncover positive effects of exercise on Parkinson's disease, depression, and memory. New tools help identify neural similarities between species, shedding light on human-specific faculties and diseases.
Animal rights extremists are increasingly targeting researchers, posing a threat to human health and scientific progress. The Society for Neuroscience emphasizes the need for public education and advocacy to protect researchers' safety and advance medical research.
Researchers found that perceiving others in pain activates a part of the brain associated with empathy and emotion more if the observer and the observed are the same race. This study confirms an in-group bias in empathic feelings, which has significant implications for understanding real-life social behaviors and interactions.