Articles tagged with Behavioral Neuroscience
Researchers developed a computer model revealing how single brain cells in nematode worms sense and process environmental information to drive decision-making. The study found that sensory cells use salt cues as 'navigation beacons' to direct foraging behavior, controlling the animal's search strategy.
Researchers found that injecting SK/CCK-type neuropeptides into starfish retracts their stomachs and makes them less inclined to eat, even with food in front of them. This discovery sheds light on the evolutionary conservation of feeding regulation mechanisms across animals.
A new study found that a next-generation brain implant for treating refractory epilepsy does not induce changes to patients' personalities or self-perceptions. The study follows 12 patients and their family caregivers over two years, providing reassurance for patients implanted with this device.
Researchers found that genetically similar mice prefer each other's company, while PDE11 mutant mice show no preference for familiar friends. This discovery may indicate a biological basis for human social choices and improve healthcare outcomes.
A new study has identified the periaqueductal gray as a critical hub for changes in spiritual identification, surprising researchers who previously thought it was associated with higher brain regions. The discovery could have significant implications for understanding spirituality's role in managing physical and emotional pain.
A new unsupervised machine learning algorithm, B-SOiD, developed by Carnegie Mellon University researchers makes studying animal behavior more accurate and efficient. The algorithm identifies patterns in an animal's body position to discover behaviors, removing human error and bias.
Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh conducted a study on three Rhesus monkeys, finding that their performance declined by up to 25% when offered a jackpot reward. The team also discovered a link between sensory motor processing and emotional processing in the monkeys' brains.
Chronic light exposure disrupts circadian rhythms in rats, leading to memory deficits and amyloid β accumulation similar to Alzheimer's disease. Fluoxetine treatment prevents these effects, suggesting a potential therapeutic strategy.
Research by UC San Diego professor Uma R. Karmarkar found that display items from the same category as the target product enhance purchase chances, while mismatched products decrease them. This study used eye-tracking technology to examine how different types of displays influenced visual attention.
A study on red junglefowl chicks found that early experiences can affect impulsivity, contradicting initial expectations. The researchers also discovered a link between gene expression and impulsivity, suggesting that genetic factors contribute to individual differences in impulsive behavior.
EPFL scientists developed LiftPose3D, a deep learning-based method that can reconstruct 3D animal poses using only 2D poses from one camera. This tool allows for the study of brain mechanisms controlling body movements in freely moving animals.
New research published in eNeuro found that premature babies' brain connections at birth can predict their future emotional and social development. The study discovered a link between the strength of the uncinate fasciculus, a white matter tract involved in emotional regulation, and emotion moderation skills in preschoolers.
The University of North Florida will lead a six-site study using computerized cognitive training to improve cognition and potentially prevent dementia. The five-year study aims to recruit 1001 participants from the Jacksonville area, with a focus on African American and Hispanic populations.
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 Duke University study found that combining risk data with an imagination exercise helps participants make more realistic decisions about their own risky behaviors. The intervention, now integrated into a publicly accessible data dashboard, aims to improve public health decisions during the pandemic.
Researchers found that longer breaks between learning events lead to more stable activation patterns in the brain, allowing for better memory retention. This study provides insights into the neuronal processes behind the spacing effect, suggesting that taking breaks can slow down learning but improve long-term memory.
Neuroscientists used artificial intelligence to disentangle the relationship between perception and memory in the human brain. A novel computational framework predicts neural responses in the primate visual system, resolving decades-long debates over the role of the medial temporal lobe (MTL) in perception.
Researchers use X-rays to activate opsins in neurons, allowing for remote control of neural function and behavior. Scintillators emit visible light in response to X-ray irradiation, enabling the technique without tissue damage.
The locus coeruleus region plays a crucial role in regulating learning from reward and punishment, optimizing behavior and mental health. The region integrates sensory inputs and internal cognitive states to precisely exert its influence.
A team of scientists has successfully developed an eyeblink test for pigs, a model species for studying nutritional neuroscience in human infants. The test assesses cognitive processing in the cerebellum and demonstrates associative learning in pigs.
Studies have shown that oxytocin neurons connecting the hypothalamus to a reward area fire when vole fathers care for their offspring, increasing paternal behavior. This neural pathway is also involved in maternal behavior, highlighting potential connections between fatherly and motherly care.
The event highlights the experiences of four past Rappaport Fellowship awardees, showcasing how their backgrounds in clinical research, brain studies, and behavioral/molecular endpoints impacted their careers. This webinar aims to revolutionize the study and treatment of mental illness by integrating psychiatry and neuroscience.
Researchers found that eating disorder behaviors like binge-eating alter brain reward response and food intake control circuitry, reinforcing these behaviors. The study suggests that behavioral traits contribute to eating disorder maintenance and progression by modulating internal reward responses.
Researchers aim to understand neural pathways in Hydra vulgaris, a tiny animal with simple circuits, to create designer neural circuits. The goal is to program behaviors from scratch and develop self-healing 'biorobots' for various applications.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine congratulates Dr. Omonigho Bubu and three others on their 2021 Trainee Investigator Awards for outstanding research presentations at SLEEP 2021. Their studies focus on sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea, and its association with Alzheimer's disease.
A new study reveals that both tame and aggressive silver fox breeds have larger brains and more grey matter than their control group counterparts. This finding contradicts previous studies on other domesticated animals, which showed smaller brain sizes with less grey matter.
Research finds that foxes selectively bred for tameness and aggressiveness display similar brain changes to regions in the prefrontal cortex. This contradicts previous studies which found shrinking brain sizes in domesticated species.
A study by West Virginia University found that most animal studies disregard the rodents' natural circadian rhythms, leading to issues with reproducibility and validity. Researchers recommend using techniques such as housing animals in darkness during the day to simulate nighttime conditions.
A study found that frequent cell phone use while driving is associated with other risky driving practices in young adults, including impulsivity and sensation seeking. The study suggests that targeting all risky behaviors rather than just cell phone use may be more effective in preventing crashes.
New research reveals that stressed male mice can pass on their stress behaviors to their offspring through changes in the sperm's genetic code. This finding indicates that sperm transmits short-term environmental information to offspring, influencing their stress responses.
Researchers discovered that mockingbirds use specific compositional strategies to create complex melodies, including changing timbre, pitch, stretching transitions, and squeezing them. These techniques are also used by human composers across various musical styles.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University found that sick bats isolate themselves to prevent the spread of contagious diseases. By staying away from their colonies, bats conserve energy and reduce the likelihood of pathogens being transmitted to humans, suggesting a potential natural defense mechanism.
Researchers used a 'robot microscope' to track chemical signals in worms, revealing the role of interneurons in food-seeking behavior. The study found that glutamate signaling between sensory and interneurons plays a key role in experience-dependent plasticity.
A new study suggests that an emotional regulation technique called cognitive reappraisal can help disrupt compulsive cocaine addiction. The technique, which involves reinterpreting the meaning of drug-related cues, was found to reduce attention-bias in individuals with cocaine use disorder.
Researchers found that fly brains use prediction to guide behavior, making them more efficient in evading predators. The visual system uses an information bottleneck to filter out unnecessary sensory data and preserve necessary information for predictions.
Researchers at Cornell University have developed a novel technique to study the neuroscience of motor control in mice by focusing on their tongue movements. This approach reveals similarities between mouse tongue movement and primate reach tasks, allowing for new insights into motor control and potential applications in understanding n...
Scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine counted brain cells in fruit flies and three mosquito species, revealing an average of 200,000 neurons. This estimate likely represents a baseline number of brain cells required for complex behaviors. The study provides insight into the intricate processing capabilities of these insects.
A subpopulation of neurons in the zona incerta drives investigatory and novelty-seeking behavior in mice. The discovery sheds light on a previously unknown brain circuit underlying innate curiosity.
Scientists from the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience have discovered a new brain circuit underlying curiosity and novelty seeking behavior. By studying mice with freedom to choose, they found that specific neurons were more active during deep investigation compared to shallow investigation.
Researchers found that modulation of map-like representations in the brain's hippocampal formation can predict contextual memory retrieval in an ambiguous environment. The study used virtual reality navigation tasks to test human participants' ability to recall object positions in different contexts.
Mehrnaz Afkhami, a University of Oklahoma doctoral biology student, received the graduate student poster award for her research on female behavioral response to male novel traits in fruit flies. Her study focuses on genetics and neurobiology aspects of this behavior.
A new Heidelberg-based computerized approach recognizes motor impairments and provides information about underlying diseases through artificial intelligence. The uBAM algorithm uses machine learning to analyze movement patterns, highlighting pathological deviations and aiding in diagnosis and treatment.
Researchers identified specific neural circuits in the basal ganglia linked to motor and non-motor Parkinson's symptoms. The findings provide a novel framework for understanding disease progression and may lead to more precise therapeutic strategies.
A new study found that increased dopamine in the brain's striatum triggers auditory hallucination-like experiences in mice, shedding light on a possible causal role for dopamine-dependent neurological circuits in psychosis. This breakthrough could inform novel targeted treatments for schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders.
Research by Matthew Panichello and Timothy Buschman found that attention and working memory share the same neural mechanisms, with neurons in the prefrontal cortex controlling both. This allows for dynamic transformation of memories to guide behavior, like rotating a paper to read text.
A new study by William Bazley found that using the color red to represent financial data affects individuals' risk preferences, expectations of future stock returns, and trading decisions. The effects are not present in people who are colorblind, and they're muted in China, where red represents prosperity.
MIT neuroscientists have identified a brain circuit that stops mice from mating with others showing signs of illness. The circuit, controlled by the amygdala's COApm region, triggers a warning signal to stay away from sick animals.
Researchers measured brain activity in first-time Japanese language students and found initial boosts followed by reductions as skills improved. Brain regions such as the grammar center, comprehension area, and auditory processing areas showed increased activation during early stages.
Researchers led by Dr. Katrin Vogt found that fly larvae adjust their behavior in response to internal states and context, similar to human brains. The study, funded by the German Research Foundation and NIH, sheds light on how the brain controls sensory processing.
A study by University of Tokyo researchers found that writing on physical paper leads to more brain activity when remembering information an hour later. Paper's unique spatial and tactile information enhances memory recall. In contrast, digital tools were slower and scored worse in simple test questions.
Researchers have developed a graphical model to identify cells in the brain, overcoming a major neuroscience bottleneck. The approach uses relationships among cells to define their identity and outperforms traditional methods in identifying cells, especially with imperfect data.
Mount Sinai researchers identified a neural pathway that detects errors and guides subsequent behavioral improvement, which is frequently dysregulated in psychiatric disorders. They also suggest that neurostimulation of this brain pathway could provide an important mechanism for attention adjustments following behavioral errors.
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development argue that neural variability is a key dimension for understanding brain-behavior relationships. Studies have shown that neural variability has a direct influence on behavior, with individuals who can adapt their neural variability performing better on tasks.
A UTEP professor's study discovered a specific area of the brain linked to recollection and desire for food, which could inhibit overeating. The research found that regulating this brain region reduced animal subjects' consumption of treats.
Researchers found that caffeine exposure in utero is linked to changes in brain structure and function, particularly in white matter tracks. This study suggests that high caffeine intake during pregnancy may contribute to behavioral issues in children, highlighting the need for further research and guidance on safe caffeine limits.
Researchers develop robots that mimic human appearance, perception, and control systems to create more advanced androids. Robots can also experience sensations like touch and pain, and learn from humans through observation and feedback mechanisms.
Researchers at McGill University have discovered a possible mechanism that contributes to LSD's ability to increase social interaction, activating serotonin receptors and AMPA receptors in the prefrontal cortex. The findings could lead to the development of novel therapies for anxiety and autism disorders.
Researchers developed a wireless, rechargeable soft brain implant that can be controlled wirelessly by a smartphone, allowing seamless chronic neuromodulation. The device uses micrometer-sized LEDs to manipulate target neurons in the deep brain, enabling real-time brain control and reducing the burden on patients for long-term use.
A Northwestern University study finds that deep sleep has an ancient power to clear waste from the brain, including toxic proteins that may lead to neurodegenerative disease. This waste clearance process is substantially enhanced during deep sleep.
A new study published in the Journal of Marketing argues that a biological account of human behavior can benefit human welfare. The researchers found that many undesirable consumer behaviors are biologically rooted in the brain and genes, and that acceptance of biology as a causal explanation varies depending on factors such as portray...