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Combining VR and non-invasive brain stimulation: a neurotechnology that boosts spatial memory without surgery

Researchers at EPFL have created a unique experimental setup combining non-invasive deep-brain stimulation, virtual reality training, and fMRI imaging to improve spatial memory. The study shows that targeted electric impulses to the hippocampus can temporarily increase brain plasticity, leading to better navigation and recall.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalScience Advances·DateOct 30, 2024

Nixing narcolepsy nightmares

A new therapeutic approach combining cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and lucid dreaming has shown promise in reducing nightmare severity and frequency in patients with narcolepsy. The study, published in the Journal of Sleep Research, found overall reductions in nightmare symptoms in all six participants tested.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalJournal of Sleep Research·DateOct 23, 2024

SNU researchers develops micro-shockwave electronic therapy for safe non-invasive treatment of brain disorders

Researchers at Seoul National University have developed a non-invasive micro-shockwave therapy that safely stimulates the brain for nerve regeneration, showing activation of neurons and behavioral improvements. The therapy targets specific brain areas without causing damage, opening new horizons in non-invasive brain disorder treatment.

At-home brain stimulation for depression is safe and effective, according to research from UTHealth Houston, King’s College London, and University of East London

A new study found that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a safe and effective treatment for depression when administered at home. Researchers reported significant improvements in depression severity and remission rates compared to a placebo control group.

SourceUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at Houston·JournalNature Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 21, 2024

Controlling the precise timing of electrical pulses may offer promise for treating mild traumatic brain injury

Scientists at Virginia Tech have discovered that controlling the precise timing of electrical pulses can rebalance synaptic connections between nerve cells, selectively up- or down-regulating those connections. This finding suggests potential avenues for more effective treatment strategies for mild traumatic brain injuries.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalJournal of Neurotrauma·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 11, 2024

Virtual reality exposure plus electric brain stimulation offers a promising treatment for PTSD

A new study combines virtual reality exposure with transcranial direct current stimulation to treat post-traumatic stress disorder in military veterans. The innovative approach shows significant reductions in PTSD symptom severity and accelerates psychological adjustment, offering hope for an effective treatment.

SourceBrown University·JournalJAMA Psychiatry·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMar 6, 2024

Revolutionary brain stimulation technique shows promise for treating brain disorders

A new brain stimulation technique called Patterned Low-Intensity Low-Frequency Ultrasound (LILFUS) has been developed by researchers at the Institute for Basic Science. This non-invasive method uses ultrasound to induce long-lasting changes in brain function and has shown promise in treating various neurological disorders.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 23, 2024

Physical and social activities promote healthy brain aging

A recent study published in NeuroImage found that physically active individuals experienced less decline in entorhinal cortex thickness over a seven-year period. Cognitive reserve is also boosted through regular mental stimulation, suggesting that brains can be trained like muscles to counteract age-related decline.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalNeuroImage·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 14, 2023

Can brain stimulation benefit individuals with schizophrenia?

Researchers found that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) improved event-based prospective memory in patients with schizophrenia, but not time-based prospective memory. The study suggests rTMS as a potential therapeutic option for prospective memory impairments in individuals with schizophrenia.

SourceWiley·JournalNeuropsychopharmacology Reports·DateDec 6, 2023

Targeted ultrasound can change brain functions for up to an hour after intervention

A new study suggests that transcranial ultrasound stimulation can be used to change specific types of activity within the brain, paving the way for targeted treatments of mental health conditions. The research found that TUS induced significant changes in GABA concentration and altered communication between brain regions.

SourceUniversity of Plymouth·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 12, 2023

Brain stimulation improves walking in patients with Parkinson’s disease

Researchers from Shinshu University have developed a novel neuromodulation approach that incorporates gait-combined closed-loop transcranial electrical stimulation, demonstrating significant gait improvements in patients with Parkinson's disease. The treatment showed encouraging results after just ten repetitions, improving speed, gait...

SourceShinshu University·JournalJournal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateAug 8, 2023

Brain stimulation may prove helpful to acute stroke patients, pilot study suggests

A pilot study suggests that high-definition cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (HD C-tDCS) may be beneficial for acute ischemic stroke patients. In the study, patients who received HD C-tDCS showed improved blood flow and a significant rescue of threatened brain tissue, compared to those in the sham group.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJun 21, 2023

Flexible nanoelectrodes can provide fine-grained brain stimulation

Rice University engineers developed ultraflexible nanoelectrodes that can deliver high-resolution stimulation therapy with minimal scarring and degradation. The devices showed precise spatiotemporal stimulus control, enabling the development of new brain stimulation therapies for patients with impaired sensory or motor functions.

SourceRice University·JournalCell Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 30, 2023

Deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease: new algorithm for the adjustment of stimulation settings developed

A new algorithm developed by researchers at Charité improves motor symptoms comparable to standard of care treatment, increasing efficiency in deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease. The study suggests a promising result for imaging-based algorithms to simplify clinical practice and improve therapeutic outcomes.

SourceCharité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin·JournalThe Lancet Digital Health·DateDec 21, 2022

Researchers develop system to test brain ultrasound treatments in mice

A new system has been developed to deliver ultrasound stimulation to the brain in awake, naturally behaving mice, allowing researchers to evaluate its effects on sleep and working memory. This advance will help scientists test different ultrasound treatment protocols in mouse models of diverse neurological conditions.

SourceWiley·JournalAdvanced Science·DateOct 19, 2022

HBP scientists have simulated how the Parkinson’s brain responds to deep stimulation at multiple scales

Researchers used microcircuit models of basal ganglia and thalamus areas to create multiscale models of Parkinson's patient and healthy control brain. They found that in-silico deep brain stimulation could normalize decreased firing rates in subcortical regions, but also caused differential activity in the motor cortex.

SourceHuman Brain Project·JournalExperimental Neurology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 22, 2022

De-aging the virtual brain: HBP researchers use computational models to identify key brain targets for stimulation and counter brain aging

Researchers used whole-brain virtual models to simulate neurostimulation effects on aging human brains, identifying key brain regions for therapeutic interventions. The study found that stimulating the precuneus region could induce a brain state similar to that of younger participants.

SourceHuman Brain Project·JournalCerebral Cortex·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 26, 2022