Articles tagged with Developmental Neuroscience
Researchers found that 30% of fetuses who later developed ASD had heart, kidney, and head anomalies detected during routine prenatal ultrasounds. These anomalies were more common in girls and linked to the severity of ASD. The study suggests that doctors can use these signs to evaluate the probability of a child being born with ASD.
Researchers will use transcriptomics and chemogenetics to identify molecular targets for pain management. The project aims to advance knowledge on pain mechanisms and develop novel therapeutic strategies.
Neuroscientists discover visual experience necessary to specify types of cells that form in brain. Researchers found that exposure to light altered the expression of genes and led to changes in cell connectivity.
Researchers discovered that genome-wide disruptions in Down syndrome cells share similarities with cellular aging or senescence. Anti-senolytic drugs were found to correct these disruptions, improving gene accessibility and cell function in cell cultures.
Researchers assessed short- and long-term effects of stress on rodent models to better understand the brain's response. The study's findings aim to develop targeted treatments for anxiety disorders and PTSD.
A team of experts from Tel Aviv University has identified 5 coronavirus proteins responsible for damaging blood vessels. The researchers hope that the identification will lead to the development of targeted drugs that reduce vascular damage in COVID-19 patients.
Researchers found no difference between kids exposed to language at birth, regardless of sign or speech. Children with delayed language exposure tend to struggle with executive functioning. The study suggests that 'talking' doesn't just mean speech—sign language exposure is equally nourishing for baby brains.
Researchers at UC San Diego will document brain development from birth through early childhood, focusing on environmental factors and mental disorders. The HBCD study aims to optimize brain imaging technologies and predict future behavioral problems.
Scientists have developed an improved technique to trace brain connections between neurons in zebrafish using vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), enabling the visualization of connected neurons up to five days after infection. This breakthrough could provide insights into brain network connectivity repair after injury or disease.
A new study in mice reveals that fragile X treatment can incur resistance, but also identifies potential strategies to overcome this. Administering mGluR5 inhibitors at a young age and then stopping may produce lasting benefits in cognitive ability.
A study published in Communications Biology reveals that chronic hyperglycemia in diabetes impairs working memory performance by altering the connection between key brain regions. Researchers found that areas critical for forming and retrieving memories were over-connected, leading to errors in remembering correct information.
A study by Boston University researcher Jennifer Zuk found that the brain's organizational pathways, known as white matter, set a foundation for language learning abilities within the first year of life. This is reflected in children born with higher indications of white matter organization having better language skills five years later.
Anjana Bhat is studying the prevalence and relationship of motor problems in children with ASD. Her research aims to alter the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders definition of ASD by including motor impairments.
University of South Australia researchers create a computer vision system to detect premature babies' faces and vital signs from digital cameras, outperforming electrocardiogram machines. The technology has the potential to replace contact-based sensors, reducing skin tearing and infections.
Researchers manipulated dopamine receptors to understand benefit- and cost-based motivation, revealing complementary roles for D1R and D2R. The study sheds light on the neurobiological mechanism of decision-making and has implications for psychiatric disorders.
A University of Alberta study found that infant boys with a high Bacteroidetes gut bacterial composition scored higher in cognition and language skills. The researchers believe this association may be due to the production of metabolites called sphingolipids, which are instrumental for neuron formation and structure.
Researchers at DZNE's Dresden site develop i3D-Markers, a cutting-edge technology platform that uses high-density microelectrode arrays and 3-dimensional neuronal networks to predict the reaction of neurons to compounds. This platform aims to optimize drug candidate selection and accelerate brain disease development.
Academic institutions must improve support for disabled faculty members, including those with visible and invisible disabilities. The commentary highlights the challenges created by high demands for grant money and frequent research publications, which can lead to reduced funding and staff retention.
Researchers at Rochester Institute of Technology are creating a cost-effective and accurate 3D reconstruction sensing system for crop monitoring. They aim to reduce the cost from $500,000 to just a few thousand dollars by using lighter and less expensive sensors.
Researchers found that newborns' brains can process voice pitch but struggle with the spectral and temporal fine structure of sounds. The study's findings suggest that neural encoding of speech sounds develops over time, providing a potential biomarker for early detection of language impairments.
A neural network developed by Skoltech researchers improves credit scoring using transactional banking data, surpassing existing models. The EWS-GCN model processes large-scale temporal graphs directly and aggregates information to predict target client credit ratings.
Researchers developed a classification algorithm that uses orchard data to predict internal browning, surface cavities and fruit firmness in apples with high accuracy. The method shows promise for improving yield and reducing losses in the fruit industry.
A MicroLED neural probe for neuroscience has been developed to control and record neural activity in the brain. The probe uses high-efficiency MicroLEDs to activate neural activity with sufficient light output, enabling researchers to study higher brain functions and their relationship with animal behaviors.
A research team led by Prof. Gordon Cheng aims to develop a 'soft' exoskeleton that can sense user movement intentions and provide real-time feedback, integrating with brain-machine interfaces. The goal is to create an exoskeleton that works as an extension of the human body, enabling users to control their movements with their minds.
Researchers discovered a new epigenetic function for CHD7, which regulates cardiac neural crest cell development. The study also found that a single point mutation in the CHD7 gene can cause severe developmental defects and embryonic lethality.
A new chip has been developed that can be surgically implanted to read neural signals and stimulate the brain with both light and electrical current. The chip is fully wireless and trimodal, allowing for precise control over targeted regions of the brain.
Neural interface electrodes play a crucial role in studying the nervous system and developing potential treatments for diseases. A new set of guidelines has been established to standardize the testing of these electrodes, enabling transparent reporting and promoting an efficient scientific process.
Society for Neuroscience recognizes Courtney Miller for her career-long practice of mentoring women scientists, including founding Professional Women's Nexus to provide support and connections. Miller has also achieved significant scientific success, developing treatments for drug addiction and post-traumatic stress disorder.
A new study suggests that targeting a single brain region called the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC) could lead to better outcomes for people with depression and anxiety. Over-activity in sgACC underlies several key symptoms of mood and anxiety disorders, but an antidepressant only successfully treats some of the symptoms.
A new tool, DeepTrust, generated automatic indicators of data and prediction trustworthiness in neural networks, addressing the need for trust in AI. The researchers used subjective logic to assess neural network architectures, providing insights into testing reliability and maximizing accuracy.
Researchers developed an AI algorithm that uses the 'slowness principle' to estimate age and ethnicity by ignoring rapidly changing facial features. The system achieves impressive accuracy, outperforming even human experts in face recognition.
A neuroimaging study found that creative insights trigger a burst of activity in the brain's reward system, motivating further creative activities. Highly reward-sensitive individuals show an additional neural reward response associated with intrinsically rewarding creative experiences.
Researchers developed an AI system that evaluates endoscopic mucosal findings in UC patients with accuracy equivalent to expert endoscopists. This may reduce the need for invasive procedures like biopsies, saving time and money for medical institutions.
Researchers at the University of Oregon have developed a new method to assess hearing by measuring pupil dilation, which is as sensitive as traditional testing methods. The approach has shown promising results in detecting sound in individuals who cannot respond, such as babies and young adults with developmental disabilities.
Researchers developed an innovative method to measure the complexity of image representations in deep neural networks, shedding light on their processing stages. The study found that classification accuracy depends on the network's ability to simplify information, with more accurate results from simplified representations.
Research reveals that maternal psychosocial, physical, and lifestyle stress are associated with distinct offspring health outcomes. Babies born to stressed mothers exhibit reduced fetal heart rate-movement coupling, indicating neurodevelopmental issues.
A biomimetic coating developed by Xinyan Tracy Cui improves the performance of microelectrode arrays, reducing inflammation and increasing recording quality and longevity. The coating is made of a brain-derived neural adhesion molecule and has proven efficacy in establishing a healthy electrode-neuron interface.
Chronic pain leads to depression by suppressing brain reward system, say Hokkaido University researchers. Their study found that blocking excessive CRF signals can increase dopamine neuron activity, suggesting potential therapeutic targets for chronic pain and depression.
A key brain circuit has been identified as a critical regulator of reward cue-related behavior in rats. The study found that this circuit reduces the incentive value of food cues by controlling dopamine release, which may help explain why some individuals struggle to resist temptation.
A review of adolescent brains across species reveals that impulsiveness is a biological adaptation crucial for brain maturation. The human brain undergoes significant changes during adolescence, including pruning of neural connections and strengthening of white matter tracts, which enables optimal brain function in the adult stage.
Researchers found a universal frequency decoding system that overrules tactile sensory channels when perceiving vibrotactile stimuli. This discovery suggests that different skin regions with varying receptors can cause the same brain sensations, revolutionizing our understanding of touch perception.
Researchers identified brain regions involved in creating the Uncanny Valley sensation, tracing it back to circuits processing social cues and valuation systems. The study's findings suggest ways to improve likability of artificial agents by adjusting these mechanisms.
Researchers found that N-cadherin protein plays a crucial role in arranging neurons to form the columnar microstructure of the brain. The study used Drosophila melanogaster fruit fly brain as a model and discovered that three neuron types are arranged within the columns, with R7 forming the core.
A new AI-powered system, Neural Lander, uses a deep neural network to help autonomous drones land more safely and quickly, while gobbling up less power. The system has been tested and achieved significant improvements in landing accuracy, with reductions of up to 100% in vertical error and 90% in lateral drift.
A team of scientists at MIT developed a neural network that can read scientific papers and generate a plain-English summary. The system, called RUM, uses vectors rotating in multidimensional space to represent words and improve memory and recall capabilities.
Researchers showcase cutting-edge neurotechnology systems, including BrainFlight, which uses online neurofeedback to modify an individual's arousal state. The system aims to improve performance in demanding tasks and has potential applications in treating mental conditions like PTSD.
A common cause for both Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) may be an inability to wake up due to a faulty CO2 blood level regulation. A potential explanation is a malfunctioning serotonin receptor in the midbrain, which could drive future treatments.
Researchers have developed a neuron-optimized CRISPR activation system that efficiently regulates genes involved in learning and memory, plasticity, and neuronal development. This breakthrough paves the way for studying genetic influences on brain health and disease using model organisms more closely resembling humans.
A new optical microscope system called SIFOM stimulates multiple cells simultaneously using holographic method and monitors cell activity using 3D measurements. The system has potential applications in reconstructing lost nerve pathways, constructing artificial neural networks, and developing food resources.
Researchers developed a method to translate brain activity into visual representations, enabling patients to increase or decrease beta waves associated with symptoms. Although no improvement in symptoms was observed, the study demonstrates a new approach toward managing disease-related brain activity that could inform new treatments.
A study of male and female rats found that moderate spinal cord damage alters daily body temperature and activity patterns. Restoring normal routines through circadian therapies may promote recovery after spinal cord injury.
Aryn Gittis, a Carnegie Mellon University neuroscientist, has been recognized for her creativity and originality in research. She discovered a class of neurons that restored movement in a mouse model for Parkinson's disease when targeted with optogenetics.
New research presents significant breakthroughs in brain-computer interfaces, enabling improved prosthetics and therapies for people with conditions such as paralysis, stroke, and blindness. Advanced technologies are being developed to restore task-related sensations to amputees and improve vision for the blind.
New analysis improves knowledge of physical, biological systems by studying time that components take to influence each other. Researchers developed formulas to understand how this affects synchronization in oscillator systems, which are common in nature and technology.
The Society for Neuroscience has presented a record-breaking 261 Trainee Professional Development Awards to young researchers from around the world. This represents a 28% increase from last year's awards, reflecting the program's growing impact on supporting the next generation of neuroscientists.
Researchers used calcium imaging techniques to visualize spontaneous activity patterns in the mature visual cortex, finding precise organizational networks in the cerebral cortex much earlier than previously thought. These networks predict future brain function and are critical for processing complex sensory input.
Researchers found that neural activity in both the left and right hemispheres of the brain is involved in encoding individual arm movements. This discovery could lead to the development of more effective rehabilitation strategies for individuals with limb function after a brain injury, by harnessing the unaffected hemisphere.
A user-friendly software tool models neural circuits in outer brain layers, enabling EEG-guided treatment for patients based on new knowledge of underlying neural circuits. The Human Neocortical Neurosolver is a free, open-source tool that can help bridge the gap between genetic and molecular changes to neural circuit level signals.
A team of engineers and physicians at USC and UC San Francisco developed a novel decoding technology that can predict mood variations from neural signals in the human brain. The study may lead to new closed-loop, tailored therapies for depression and anxiety disorders.
Researchers studied barn owls' brain and behavior while tracking dark dots on a screen, finding evidence of perceptual grouping. This ability, crucial for vision-based species, was previously only studied in primates.