Researchers at University College London discovered that brain activity before an event is linked to memory recall. The study used EEG scans to show that preparing the brain for a task can enhance long-term memory, and that this preparation can be done by being 'in the right frame of mind' and staying alert between cues.
Researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging to study volunteers' brains, finding high levels of activity in the posterior parietal cortex. Participants felt their waist shrink by up to 28% after a vibrating device stimulated their wrist tendon, suggesting the brain creates a map of body size through integrating signals from ...
Researchers propose using probiotics to saturate skin with 'good' bacteria, preventing pathogenic bacteria from settling. This approach could potentially reduce the spread of antibiotic-resistant MRSA in hospitals.
A new UCL study reveals that bees can recognize flowers under different global lights by segmenting scenes into regions of illumination and finding the correct flowers within each region. This strategy suggests that bees use color relationships between objects in a scene to resolve stimulus ambiguity, a challenge also faced by humans.
Researchers found 12 out of 15 participants with chronic schizophrenia made more accurate judgments than the best performer among a control group of non-schizophrenic volunteers. The study suggests that contextual processing may be less effective in schizophrenic brains, possibly due to insufficient inhibition.
A University College London study found that heat-related deaths were largely unaffected by pollutants such as ozone and particulates. Instead, temperature rises in early summer contributed significantly to mortality rates, highlighting the need for improved heat preparedness.
Researchers discovered the physics behind coastal wind jets, which can gust up to 40% higher than normal wind speeds. This knowledge could aid sailors in planning strategies and improve weather forecasting for wind energy and flood prevention.
A UCL study has found that a natural compound in beans can inhibit the growth of tumors and enhance the effect of existing anti-cancer drugs. The compound, inositol pentakisphosphate, is non-toxic and water-soluble, making it a promising therapeutic agent for cancer treatment.
Researchers have discovered the closest living descendant of the extinct giant deer, a species that once roamed the UK. The fallow deer was found to share key characteristics with the ancient animal, including flattened antlers and similar skull and teeth features.
Scientists at University College London found that the parietal cortex is crucial for detecting changes in a visual scene, explaining why we often miss dramatic changes while concentrating. The discovery sheds new light on 'change blindness,' a phenomenon where people fail to notice large visual changes.
A new report recommends introducing post-surgery overnight recovery units to improve mortality rates and reduce hospital stays. The proposal includes assessing patient fitness at an earlier stage and using exercise and nutritional supplements to prepare patients for surgery.
Researchers found that adults can improve their recognition of speech sounds in foreign languages through training. The study showed a significant improvement in recognition accuracy after a 10-session training course.
Researchers have developed a new model that accurately forecasts US hurricane activity, enabling skilful seasonal predictions to benefit individuals and decision-makers. The model uses height-averaged winds as a predictor, exhibiting significant linkages to US landfalling hurricanes.
Researchers at University College London have discovered how a well-specified bath affects the qubits in a crystal, which behaves as a primitive quantum computer. The study suggests that the effect can be controlled by radio waves and temperature of the bath, paving the way for stable quantum computing.
A new commission aims to address health inequalities globally by focusing on the social determinants of health. The commission's findings highlight the need for governments to take action on poverty, education, and working conditions to improve health outcomes.
The Mt. Everest team, comprising anaesthesia and intensive care experts, aims to study human physiology in extreme environments by testing a closed-circuit breathing system and investigating the effects of hypoxia on brain function and genetics. The expedition seeks to understand acclimatization at the very limit.
A collaborative study by UCL scientists found that HIV-1 subtype B spread through at least six separate transmission chains in the UK, contradicting the prevailing belief of a single initial entry. The study suggests changes in sexual behavior and lack of impact from antiretroviral therapy may have slowed the epidemic growth.
A study published in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology has uncovered the structure of resuscitation promoting factor (Rpf), a key player in TB bacteria. The discovery holds promise for developing new methods to 'wake-up' dormant bacteria, allowing antibiotics to kill and cure the disease.
A frozen sea was discovered near the Martian equator using 3D images from the Mars Express probe, revealing a vast area of ice that may have been home to primitive life. The find is significant as it suggests that liquid water on Mars existed for thousands of millions of years, providing a possible habitat for life.
A collaborative study found evidence of TB and leprosy co-infection in ancient bones across Europe, suggesting that TB overtook leprosy as a more aggressive disease. The findings imply that the decline of leprosy may have been linked to the rise of TB, which brought a speedier death due to opportunistic co-infection.
Researchers at UCL discovered a new method to improve Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) that can produce effects on the brain for more than an hour. By adjusting stimulation patterns, they achieved rapid and consistent changes in the motor cortex area, outlasting conventional TMS.
A study at University College London found that macrophage inflammatory protein-1a plays a crucial role in allergic responses. Drugs blocking MIP-1a's binding to its receptors could help treat ocular allergy and other diseases.
Researchers discovered a link between brain activity and abnormal heart rhythms during stressful events, particularly in people with pre-existing heart disease. The study suggests that uneven brain signals can disrupt heart function, leading to potentially fatal arrhythmias.
Researchers at UCL found that brain activity increases in areas known as the 'mirror system' when experts view movements they've been trained to perform, compared to non-experts. This fine-tuned system may enable professionals to simulate skills without moving and maintain movement ability despite injury.
UCL surgeons successfully performed phalloplasty to rebuild micropennises in nine men, with four able to urinate standing up and four have regular sex. However, complications arose in several cases, highlighting the need for awareness and careful monitoring.
Researchers analyzed three of Iris Murdoch's works, including her final novel, to study the effects of Alzheimer's on language. The findings suggest a decline in vocabulary and simplified language in her final novel, consistent with early stages of the disease.
A study by Dr. Jamie Ward reveals that synaesthesia is not about detecting hidden emotions, but rather a brain-created response to stimuli. Researchers found that people with the condition associate words and names with specific colours, including pink for positive emotions and brown for negative ones.
Eurasian giant deer were found to have survived until 7,000 years ago, according to a recent study published in Nature. The discovery pushes back the previously believed extinction date for the species by 3,000 years, leaving scientists to question what ultimately led to their demise.
Researchers have created a smart window coating that reflects infrared light when temperatures rise above 29 degrees Celsius, reducing unwanted heat. This intelligent glass can help reduce energy consumption and provide cooler conditions for occupants.
A study by University College London and University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre found that hypnotic suggestion can cause strikingly similar brain activity to physical pain. Volunteers under hypnosis reported feeling pain even though they had not experienced any physical stimulus, suggesting that some pain may begin in the mind.
Researchers at University College London found that humans use a strategy similar to barn owls for sound pitches above middle-C, while gerbils adapt to detect low-pitched sounds. The study suggests the brain adopts an efficient strategy to locate sound sources, adapting to different frequencies.
A study by University College London reveals that the brain distinguishes between self and non-self by comparing information from different senses. Volunteers were immersed in an illusion where a fake limb was placed in front of their hidden hand, triggering feelings of ownership.
Researchers apply Darwinian principles to optimize car setup for better performance. The study uses genetic algorithms to combine the best settings of Formula One cars, resulting in a 0.88-second lap time improvement.
A recent study found that B-cell targeted therapy significantly reduced arthritic symptoms in patients, with improvement lasting over a year and sometimes up to three years. The treatment has shown promise in breaking the cycle driving the disease, but further studies are needed to ensure its safety.
A new study on fruit flies found that reducing insulin/insulin-like growth factor (IIS) signalling pathway in fat tissue extends life by up to 50%. The system, which governs longevity, is likely to be conserved in humans. Increasing dFOXO levels in fat cells also extended lifespan and reduced fertility.
The CARDS trial found that a daily 10mg dose of atorvastatin reduced the risk of serious heart problems by 36% and strokes by 48%. The benefits were observed even in patients with already low LDL-cholesterol levels. This study has significant implications for the cardiovascular health of people with Type 2 diabetes.
Researchers at UCL's Institute of Neurology found that memories are distributed across different brain regions, not just one area. This means that a single sense can reactivate a memory, rather than requiring all aspects to be recreated.
Researchers discover novel gene BBS5, necessary for generating cilia and flagella, which are involved in the development of Bardet-Biedl syndrome. The study confirms that BBS is caused by defects in cilia, a theory first proposed by Dr Philip Beales.
Researchers at University College London developed more effective crime hotspot maps by treating the spread of crime like a disease, capturing 62-80% of burglaries and being 30% more accurate than traditional methods
Scientists have successfully measured the activity of a single granule cell in an intact brain using patch-clamping technique, confirming predictions made over 30 years ago by David Marr. This breakthrough could lead to better understanding and treatment of movement disorders like ataxia and dysmetria.
Researchers have identified a novel gene linked to familial Parkinson's disease, revealing a new pathway for therapeutic treatment. The discovery places mitochondrial function at the centre of Parkinson's research, particularly in relation to oxidative stress and brain cell degeneration.
A study by researchers at University College London found that when participants were lifting a heavy box, they perceived the weight of an actor's lifted box as lighter than it actually was. This suggests that our brains use simulation theory to understand others' actions, which can lead to biased judgments in social situations. Accord...
Researchers question current disease treatment theory, suggesting new treatments targeting neutrophil leukocytes instead. The study's findings could lead to a re-evaluation of antioxidant therapies and a shift in medical practice.
A UCL study found that empathy for pain involves the affective but not sensory components of pain, and is triggered by the perception of a loved one's pain. The researchers discovered specific brain regions are activated when observing another person in pain, highlighting the emotional representation of internal bodily states.
A UCL study found that both maternal and romantic love activate specific brain regions involved in the reward system, while reducing activity in systems for negative judgments. The research also showed similar mechanisms of love in animals and humans, linking them to oxytocin and vasopressin.
A clinical trial of Prana's Alzheimer's disease drug, PBT-1 (Clioquinol), has shown a significant reduction in AD development. The study found an average change in score at 24 weeks of about 1.5 points on PBT-1 and about 8.9 on placebo.
Researchers at UCL's Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research have developed a new drug to treat enlarged prostate with virtually no hormonal side effects. The treatment can both relax the prostate and prevent its growth, offering a major advance in treating a condition affecting millions of men worldwide.
A new study reveals a significant increase in Arctic summer melt season length, threatening polar bears' survival and global climate stability. The research uses radar data from European and American satellites to measure changes in Arctic sea ice thickness, shedding light on the impact of global warming.
A new study suggests that children's brains are wired to downplay the sensation of their own physical actions, leading to increased force being used in play. This mechanism may also explain why kids can't tickle themselves, but feel the full effect when someone else does.
Researchers at UCL create first laboratory-generated deep and intermediate focus earthquakes, recreating extreme pressure and temperature conditions. The study reveals dehydration reactions as the cause of these enigmatic earthquakes, which can occur hundreds of kilometers below the Earth's surface.