Articles tagged with Developmental Neuroscience
A study of 27 children using fMRI found a specific brain region, the ventral medial prefrontal cortex, increasingly devoted to social self-evaluations during puberty. This region showed significant increases in blood-oxygen levels when responding to questions about identity and peer status.
Researchers found that excess alpha-synuclein protein disrupts vital recycling processes in neurons, leading to progressive degeneration and cell death. The study provides a structural and mechanistic explanation for the progression of Parkinson's disease, shedding light on its causes and mechanisms.
The project aims to make neuroscience-specific compute and software tools conveniently available to students and investigators. The NSG portal will offer a streamlined process for uploading models, retrieving and storing data, and specifying parameters for running high-performance computing-based neuronal simulations.
Researchers from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine developed a mouse model that mimics the N48K mutation in Usher III, leading to understanding of how deafness occurs. This new model enables exploration of prospective therapeutics to rescue mutant protein localization and hearing.
Researchers at Monell Chemical Senses Center discover that adding sweetness to a solution can suppress coughing, while menthol reduces the cough reflex by numbing sensory nerves. These findings have implications for understanding how popular remedies work and may inform strategies for managing cough symptoms.
Ichiro Matsumoto, a molecular biologist at Monell Center, has received the 2012 Ajinomoto Award for his significant contributions to understanding taste bud organization and differentiation in various vertebrate species. His research has also examined taste receptors, neural pathways, and clinical taste dysfunction.
A Baylor University study reveals that humility is a positive quality with potential benefits, predicting greater helpfulness in aiding someone in need. Researchers found that humble individuals offered more time to help compared to less humble ones, especially when personal or situational factors were controlled.
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have developed a nano-tech method to test new medicines in extremely small volumes, allowing for faster and cheaper drug development. The technique uses self-assembling systems made from biological materials, significantly reducing environmental impact.
A large study found substantial delays in early neurological development among babies born to mothers who smoked during pregnancy. Poor families were particularly vulnerable to the effects of prenatal smoking, which may be stronger than previously thought. The study's findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to reduce pre...
A Wayne State University researcher has received a $475,000 grant to develop graphene-based neural implants that could improve the quality of life for millions. The technology aims to overcome limitations of current implantable devices by using a flexible material and biodegradable backing.
Researchers at Wayne State University have been awarded a $330,000 NSF grant to develop a 3-D neural probe that can suppress tinnitus by electrically and chemically stimulating neurons. The probe will enable the integration of micro-channels for neurotransmitter-based chemical stimulation and local drug delivery.
Bjorn R. Olsen, Richard Drake, and Gary C. Schoenwolf received the highest awards from the American Association of Anatomists for their outstanding contributions to anatomical sciences, with Olsen receiving the Scientific Achievement Award, Drake the Distinguished Educator Award, and Schoenwolf the Exemplary Service Award.
A woman with tetraplegia has controlled a computer cursor accurately for over 1,000 days using the BrainGate neural interface system. The system, which decodes brain signals to translate them into digital instructions, has shown promising results in enabling people with paralysis to control external devices.
Researchers found that folic acid can promote nerve cell regeneration following injury in rodents. This discovery provides a rationale for testing folate supplementation in patients with spinal cord and brain trauma. The study suggests that folate may play a role in promoting healing and recovery from brain and spinal cord injuries.
Researchers found that ghrelin is protective of dopamine neurons and can slow the development of Parkinson's disease. Ghrelin supplementation in mice showed increased dopamine production and reduced loss compared to controls.
Researchers at LSU Health Sciences Center have identified microRNA-146a as a crucial regulator of inflammation and disease-related neuropathology in Alzheimer's disease. The study found that miRNA-146a targets the messenger RNA of an anti-inflammatory regulator, promoting brain cell inflammation.
The Neuroscience Information Framework (NIF) is a dynamic inventory of web-based neurosciences data, resources, and tools. The NIF enables discovery and access to public research data and tools worldwide through an open source, networked environment.
Scientists have discovered that infants develop increased sensitivity to negative emotional expressions at around 6 months old. This change allows them to focus more intensely on fearful faces and take longer to shift their attention away from these stimuli.
A study by Andrew Chambers found that rats with damaged amygdalas showed abnormal behavior related to fear and fearlessness, as well as greater cocaine sensitivity. This suggests that brain conditions may alter addiction vulnerability independently of drug history.
Lisa Feldman Barrett, a BC psychology professor, has developed a 'conceptual act' model that explains emotions as conceptual acts, challenging traditional views of emotions and their role in mental and physical health. Her research aims to shape a new paradigm for the scientific study of emotion.
As infants grow, their visual and auditory systems fine-tune to relevant distinctions, but also lose the ability to discriminate irrelevant stimuli. Environmental input helps refine these neural connections, enabling infants to better perceive salient inputs.
Researchers at University College London successfully induced an out-of-body experience (OBE) in healthy participants using a novel method. The study, published in Science, reveals the neural basis of OBEs and has implications for fields like neuroscience, philosophy, and psychology.
The Biophysical Society has awarded 14 individuals for their exceptional contributions to the field of biophysics. These awards recognize achievements in areas such as lipids and membrane biology, education, single molecule biology, and computational biology.
Dr. Douglas Black and colleagues reveal that a switch in PTB expression induces changes in alternative splicing patterns during neuronal development, adding a new layer of genetic regulation. This reprogramming enables the creation of unique genetic code in post-mitotic neurons.
Researchers at Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation discovered that ApoE4 attaches to a receptor on brain cells, leading to protein fragment formation and cell death. This finding may lead to new pathways for developing Alzheimer's therapeutics.
Researchers have developed software that turns existing print brain atlases into multimedia resources, improving data organization and comparison. The NeuARt II system is a robust interface that works on all popular computer operating systems, without violating copyright.
Despite global recommendations, many women are not following daily folic acid guidelines to reduce neural tube defects. Countries should intensify national campaigns to increase knowledge and use of supplements among women.
Mount Sinai School of Medicine researchers identified three proteins found in lower concentration in ALS patients' cerebral spinal fluid, showing 95% accuracy in diagnosing the disease. Early testing may provide relief from symptoms years earlier than current methods.
Research suggests that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) can decrease levels of pathogenic Abeta peptides associated with Alzheimer's disease in human brain cells. The synthesis of neuroprotectin D1 (NPD1), an endogenous DHA-derived messenger, is also upregulated and inhibits apoptosis triggered by Abeta peptides.
Researchers at Medical College of Georgia have found that an enzyme called focal adhesion kinase plays a crucial role in guiding axons across the midline of the spinal cord during development. This discovery provides new insights into normal nervous system development and offers potential targets for treating spinal cord injuries.
A large study of 779 mother-infant pairs found no association between prenatal mercury exposure and impaired neurodevelopment. Despite finding two tests associated with exposure, the results were likely due to chance, suggesting that current fish consumption levels are probably safe during pregnancy.
Researchers at Virginia Tech found that stimulating a mother's immune system can increase growth factors in the fetus, reducing birth defects. The study suggests a new role for maternal immunity in fetal development, potentially unlocking secrets to reversing certain birth defects.
Researchers at UCLA and NASA are creating a robotic stepper device that uses precise measurements to help therapists monitor patients' progress in rehabilitation. The device could enable some wheelchair-bound individuals to learn to walk again or improve their walking ability, according to the researchers.
A 70-year-old woman developed a glioblastoma multiforme, a highly aggressive brain cancer, 7 years after undergoing radiosurgery to treat a benign tumor. The case report highlights the rare but potential risk of radiation-induced malignancy following this procedure.
Researchers aim to develop new techniques to selectively stimulate thalamic neurons and improve therapeutic efficacy of deep brain stimulation. The team will use computer-based neural models to describe stimulation phenomena and validate them in the clinic.
A new software program developed by Emory researchers uses data from 840 previous patients to predict outcomes in new patients. The genetic adaptive model has an accuracy rate of 76 percent and can help determine a patient's chances of cancer recurrence after treatment, guiding doctors towards the best treatment option.
Researchers at the University of Florida have developed a technique to predict certain types of epileptic seizures minutes to hours before they occur. By analyzing brain electrical signals using mathematical formulas from chaos theory, they can identify warning signs of an impending seizure and potentially prevent it with medication or...
Researchers are decoding neural activity to translate brain signals into prosthetic limb movements, potentially empowering paralyzed patients to regain control. The technology involves implanting electrodes in the brain and using computer algorithms to interpret neural patterns.
A recent study by Daniel S. Kessler found that activation of siamois, a homeobox gene, is required for the formation of Spemann's organizer in frogs. The siamois gene is turned on by Wnt proteins and activates organizer genes, crucial for embryonic development.