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JCI early table of contents for Sept. 3, 2013

Researchers have identified a potential new target for breast cancer treatment: ERBB3, an oncogene that promotes tumor growth. The study also found peritoneal dialysis to be effective in reducing brain damage after stroke by lowering glutamate levels.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateSep 3, 2013

Words and actions

Researchers at SISSA uncover inconsistencies in the dependence of the linguistic system on the motor one, with damage to specific brain regions affecting gesture imitation but not language processing. The study employs voxel-based lesion symptom mapping to establish a link between brain damage and performance decline.

Fighting Alzheimer's before its onset

A Concordia University study has found that adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are impaired in several aspects of executive functioning, particularly inhibitory control. The researchers hope their work will lead to the development of more reliable tools for detecting Alzheimer's disease at an earlier stage.

SourceConcordia University·JournalJournal of the International Neuropsychological Society·DateSep 10, 2012

Promising new compound for treating stroke

Researchers have designed a new chemical compound that binds 1,000 times more effectively to the target protein in the brain than current drugs, reducing cell death by 40% in animal models. The compound also improves motor function and passes through the blood-brain barrier.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 21, 2012

Neurorobotics reveals brain mechanisms of self-consciousness

A new study uses creative engineering to unravel brain mechanisms associated with self-consciousness, identifying the TPJ as critical for self-location and first-person perspective. The research found that brain damage interfering with multisensory body information may lead to pathological changes in these subjective states.

SourceCell Press·JournalNeuron·DateApr 27, 2011

The changing roles of 2 hemispheres in stroke recovery

A new study sheds light on the complex process of recovery from aphasia after a stroke, finding that inter-hemispheric coordination plays a crucial role. The research suggests that the involvement of both hemispheres in language functions is not as binary as previously thought.

SourceElsevier·JournalCortex·DateJan 31, 2011

There is more to motor imagery than mental simulation

Researchers found that stroke patients with severe motor impairments used alternative mental strategies to complete tasks, suggesting a more complex phenomenon than previously thought. The study suggests that motor imagery may be a key factor in creative problem-solving and innovation.

SourceElsevier·JournalCortex·DateSep 9, 2010

Methylmercury warning

Recent studies suggest that methylmercury can cause irreversible brain damage in unborn children at previously considered safe levels of exposure. Methylmercury toxicity is well-known, but its effects on the developing nervous system have been underestimated.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Environment and Health·DateOct 28, 2008

Are you phonagnosic?

A woman with phonagnosia, unable to recognize her daughter's voice on the phone, undergoes tests that reveal difficulties in recognizing famous actors' voices but not other sounds or music. The study suggests there may be more people with similar conditions, and researchers seek contact from potential sufferers.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalNeuropsychologia·DateOct 27, 2008

Oxygen deprived brains repaired and saved

Scientists have identified special proteins that help repair and protect the brain after it has been damaged by a lack of oxygen. Dr Nicole Jones and her team found that these proteins increase during oxygen deprivation, regulating processes like red blood cell production and glucose flow to the brain.

SourceResearch Australia·JournalJournal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism·DateAug 23, 2006

Cooling lessens brain damage in sick newborn babies

Researchers have found that cooling can significantly reduce brain damage in newborn babies who suffer from oxygen deprivation at birth. The treatment involves lowering the body temperature of the baby for 72 hours after birth using a water-filled cap. This breakthrough discovery has the potential to bring routine treatment to babies s...

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalThe Lancet·DateJan 27, 2005