Articles tagged with Developmental Neuroscience
As people age, their brain connectivity is disrupted, affecting their ability to form and maintain relationships. This study uses brain scans to show how intrinsic functional connectivity networks mediate the impact of age on sociability.
Researchers are still puzzled by the complex interplay of factors involved in tickling, including motor, social, neurological, developmental, and evolutionary aspects. Studies have shown that people with autism spectrum disorder respond differently to ticklish stimuli, offering insights into brain development and differences in autism.
A new study shows that lowering EMC10 levels restores brain function and memory in models of 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome. Reducing EMC10 activity also alleviates symptoms, including improved cognitive deficits and social memory performance.
Salk Institute and UC San Diego researchers captured the first-of-its-kind video of dynein-Lis1 protein interaction, revealing 16 detailed shapes that support designing therapeutics to restore dynein and Lis1 function. The insights gained from this movie will help identify precise locations where drugs can interact with the proteins.
A new study from UC Berkeley reveals that the depth of small grooves on the brain's surface is correlated with increased connectivity between regions involved in reasoning. The researchers found that these tertiary sulci, unique to humans, may help explain individual differences in cognitive performance and serve as diagnostic indicato...
Researchers at VIB-KU Leuven have identified a novel protein complex that regulates the formation of spine apparatus in developing synapses, essential for stabilizing mature synapses and supporting learning and memory. The study reveals that GPR158 interacts with PLCXD2 to control spine apparatus abundance, lifting the brake on synapti...
Researchers have created a library of genetically engineered fruit flies linked to individual neurons in the nerve cord to characterize the circuits controlling wing motion. The study provides a resource for studying motor control of wing movements and courtship behaviors.
A study at Emory University revealed that five-year-olds have the brain system that supports map-based navigation, challenging the assumption that this cognitive ability develops until age 12. Children can recognize landmarks and navigate through a virtual town with remarkable accuracy.
The Simons Collaboration on Ecological Neuroscience (SCENE) is a 10-year program that will support projects aiming to uncover how the world shapes representations in the mind and brain. By integrating sensory and motor information, researchers hope to discover fundamental principles of cognition applicable across species.
A randomized clinical trial found no association between immediate skin-to-skin contact and improved neurodevelopmental outcomes in very preterm neonates. However, the intervention was shown to enhance breastfeeding practices up to 12 months compared to standard care.
The Feihe Pediatric Brain Development Research Initiative at Boston Children's Hospital aims to improve brain development through genetic, nutritional, and environmental factors. The initiative has awarded funding to seven researchers working on projects related to prenatal and postnatal brain development.
Researchers propose a novel machine memory structure and the M2I framework to address excessive data consumption, catastrophic forgetting, and logical reasoning capabilities in large models. The study has potential to revolutionize AI development by mimicking human brain's memory mechanisms.
A breakthrough in medical technology, the wearable stethoscope accurately monitors lung sounds in real-time and detects wheezing. An AI-based algorithm classifies breathing sounds and counts wheezing events with high accuracy.
A large-scale program in Turkey reduced disciplinary problems and improved academic achievement among disadvantaged middle school students. The program's success was attributed to buy-in from challenging adolescents who crave status and social recognition.
Lana Ruvolo Grasser, a Wayne State University assistant professor, has been selected as an Early Career Policy Ambassador (ECPA) by the Society for Neuroscience. She will engage in advocacy initiatives and learn effective strategies to advocate for scientific research and its funding.
A study of human-specific genes reveals their crucial role in brain development, providing new insights into the evolutionary origins of the human brain. The research highlights the importance of these genes in determining brain complexity and size.
The study systematically traces Generative AI evolution from deep learning to foundation models, highlighting four distinct stages and successful applications. Key challenges like safety concerns and theoretical breakthroughs require further attention and development in the field of Generative AI.
Researchers at WVU have discovered a way to fine-tune zinc activity to improve messaging in the brain, with potential applications for treating conditions such as autism, schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease. The study identified new compounds that can selectively change synaptic connections by modulating zinc levels.
The Open Brain Institute launches a groundbreaking platform to simulate and study digital brains, empowering researchers to explore brain complexity and diseases. With its virtual neuroscience laboratories, the OBI enables global collaboration and access to cutting-edge virtual labs.
A new study reveals that maternal immune activation can alter hippocampal neuron excitability in newborn rats, with implications for neurodevelopmental disorders. Prenatal inflammation has been linked to conditions like autism, schizophrenia, and depression, and may underlie their increased risk.
Researchers found that lower environmental temperature during pupal development correlates to more synapses and postsynaptic partners in the brain, which affects odor-driven behavior. The study suggests a metabolic theory for brain wiring at different temperatures.
A study published in PNAS found that young children perceive colors similarly to adults, with consistent structure across age groups and cultures. The researchers developed a touch panel interface to evaluate conscious experiences, revealing robustness in their approach.
Researchers found that Hawaiian parasitic flies have developed more sensitive hearing to locate host crickets, improving their chances of survival. The flies' adaptation allows them to detect a range of sound frequencies prominent in rapidly changing cricket calling songs.
Research advances higher-order networks to capture multi-agent interactions, enabling accurate modeling of biological, social, and physical systems. The Dirac-Bianconi operator provides a powerful generalization of the graph Laplacian, encoding local and global interactions across different topological dimensions.
A team of researchers has developed a novel model of the Blood-Brain Barrier, which mimics the complex structure of cerebral blood vessels. This breakthrough enables scientists to study neuroinflammation and develop new therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.
The research aims to understand how high-risk genes disrupt neurodevelopment and lead to neuropsychiatric conditions, potentially informing diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. A national team of researchers will examine the effects of these genes on brain development, connectivity, and behavior in a mouse model.
Dr. Adam Kohn has been appointed as the Chair of Neuroscience at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, succeeding an extensive national search. He will lead research focused on visual processing and neural coding.
Research by Stephen Shea and Alexandra Nowlan reveals that smell and hearing signals merge in the brain's auditory cortex during pup retrieval, a crucial maternal behavior. This study may provide insights into how autism affects social cue interpretation and offer new avenues for understanding human connection.
A recent study demonstrates how DNNs can predict fragrance profiles from essential oil chemical compositions, validating sensory evaluations. The model achieved high accuracy in predicting floral scents and showed promise for generating new and unique combinations.
A clinical trial showed that an antibody blocking Nogo-A protein improves motor function in patients with incomplete spinal cord injuries. The treatment led to significant improvements in voluntary muscle activation and everyday life functional independence. Further studies are needed to confirm the findings.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University have successfully completed a phase I clinical trial of VU319, a drug that increases the efficacy of acetylcholine at the M1 receptor, showing promise as an Alzheimer's treatment. The trial demonstrated no side effects and target engagement at the highest dose tested.
A recent study published in Journal of Dental Research examined the relationship between early childhood fluoride exposure and cognitive development. The research found that there were no significant effects of fluoride exposure on cognitive neurodevelopment, with the hypothesis of non-inferiority tests also supporting this conclusion.
A study by Durham University found that bonobos orphaned by the illegal trade in bushmeat and pets can develop social abilities despite early life trauma. Researchers observed 83 bonobos at different stages of their lives, finding that female bonobos' social skills increased with age, while males' decreased, similar to wild interactions.
Researchers use real-time neuroimaging and neurofeedback to modify brain activity patterns, enabling faster learning and treatment of psychiatric disorders. The study demonstrates the ability to inscribe new patterns into the brain without physical manipulation.
A study of over 6,000 adolescents found that those with symptoms of gaming addiction showed lower brain activity in the decision-making and reward processing region. This suggests a link between reduced sensitivity to rewards and problematic gaming behaviors.
A new brain mapping technique has revealed fresh insights into how higher-order functions like language, thought, and attention are organised. Researchers used data from fMRI scans to create accurate models of brain activity and interactions between regions.
Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (Trh) plays a crucial role in zebrafish hatching by activating a transient neuroendocrine circuit. The hormone stimulates the release of enzymes that break down the chorion, initiating hatching.
A study by IRB Barcelona has identified a molecular mechanism underlying idiopathic autism, linking the lack of a specific neuronal microexon to decreased gene expression crucial for neuronal development. The discovery reveals how CPEB4 condensates regulate gene expression and highlights potential therapeutic approaches.
Bentham Science journals Central Nervous System Agents in Medicinal Chemistry and CNS & Neurological Disorders – Drug Targets accepted for PsycInfo database indexing, enhancing global visibility of research. PsycInfo provides extensive coverage of behavioral and social sciences, making this move a significant step forward.
Recent Nobel Prizes in physics and chemistry have recognized the convergence of AI with physics and chemistry, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary research. Researchers advocate for nurturing AI-enabled polymaths to bridge the gap between theoretical advancements and practical applications.
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have devised a potential solution to the paradox of animal innate abilities using artificial intelligence. The genomic bottleneck algorithm allows for compression levels unseen in AI, enabling faster runtimes and potentially leading to more evolved AI systems.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University have found that the hunger hormone leptin can direct neural development in a leptin receptor-independent manner. This discovery suggests a novel role for leptin in specifying the development of neural circuits involved in autonomic regulation and food intake.
Researchers have developed a deep-learning-powered metalens imaging system that overcomes limitations of traditional metalenses. The system pairs a mass-produced metalens with an image restoration framework driven by AI to achieve aberration-free, full-color images while maintaining compact form factor.
Researchers at Rice University developed a minimally invasive neural interface technique called endocisternal interfaces (ECI), allowing for simultaneous access to the brain and spinal cord without skull surgery. The innovative method uses cerebral spinal fluid as a pathway to deliver targeted devices, enabling new possibilities for th...
A longitudinal cohort study found no significant associations between prenatal SARS-CoV-2 infection and child neurodevelopment outcomes in the first two years of life. Follow-up research is needed to determine if these effects persist into later childhood.
Critical Path Institute (C-Path) has announced key leadership appointments: Dr. Diane Stephenson promoted to Vice President of Neurology and Nadine Tatton welcomed as new Executive Director of CPAD Consortium. This move aims to advance neurodegenerative disease research, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
Researchers developed a novel neural network model to reconstruct 3D digital images of relief-type cultural heritage objects from old photos. The model improves the accuracy of depth estimation and soft-edge detection, enhancing the preservation of cultural heritage.
Researchers have developed a reconfigurable three-dimensional integrated photonic processor specifically designed to tackle the subset sum problem, a classic NP-complete challenge. The processor operates by allowing photons in a light beam to explore all possible paths simultaneously, providing answers in parallel and demonstrating hig...
A new study finds that the FOXG1 gene has a dual function in regulating RNA transcription and translation, essential for proper brain development. The discovery raises questions about the evolution of this complex mechanism and its potential role in neuroplasticity.
A cohort study found no association between maternal COVID-19 exposure and abnormal neurodevelopmental screening results in children aged 24 months. Continued research is needed due to the developing fetal brain's sensitivity to maternal immune activation.
Brain cells called OPCs (oligodendrocyte precursor cells) play a crucial role in shaping neural circuitry by pruning unnecessary synapses. This process is essential for the brain's functioning and has been linked to both glioma brain cancer and Alzheimer's disease.
A study found that speakers smiled more when listeners smiled more, especially in same-sex conversations. Smile synchronization is essential in creating social bonds and fostering positive feelings.
Researchers found lower neuron density in regions of the cerebral cortex responsible for tasks like memory, learning, and problem-solving in children with autism. In contrast, other brain regions like the amygdala showed increased neuron density, suggesting unique promise in characterizing individuals with autism.
Researchers identify a homozygous SPAG9 gene mutation associated with intellectual disability, progressive cognitive decline, and heterogeneous brain abnormalities. The study provides a unique model for understanding disruptions in cellular transport mechanisms leading to neurodevelopmental and degenerative brain conditions.
A breakthrough technology allows for touchless infrared imaging to monitor changes in pupil size and gaze direction behind closed eyes. This innovation can help identify wakefulness, awareness, and pain in sleep, anesthesia, and intensive care, enabling more accurate clinical decision-making.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed ultra-flexible tentacle electrodes that can precisely record brain activity over extended periods, enabling detailed analysis of neural activity. The technology has the potential to diagnose and treat neurological disorders such as epilepsy, depression, and schizophrenia.
A new algorithm, inspired by the nervous system's matchmaker, pairs drivers with riders in a way that maximizes everyone's happiness. The algorithm creates near-optimal pairings while preserving privacy, making it suitable for everyday applications.
A multi-university research team led by University of Virginia engineering professor Gustavo K. Rohde has developed a system that can accurately spot genetic markers of autism in brain images. The system uses generative computer modeling technique called transport-based morphometry, which reveals brain structure patterns that predict v...
Researchers analyzed genetic samples from individuals with undiagnosed illnesses and found that mutations in the DENND5A gene disrupt brain cell division, leading to developmental delays. The discovery provides answers for families affected by this rare condition and may lead to potential treatments.
A new study at Aston University found that parents' eating styles can shape their children's eating behavior, with parents who exhibit 'avid' or 'avoidant' eating patterns more likely to pass on similar traits. The research suggests that parents can help create a healthy food environment by modeling balanced eating habits.