Articles tagged with Behavioral Neuroscience
Researchers developed a low-cost, customizable VR system to study animal behavior using freely moving small animals. The system, called PiVR, enables the delivery of virtual realities in real-time, allowing scientists to examine causal relationships between neural activity and specific behaviors.
Amber Alhadeff, a behavioral neurobiologist at Monell Chemical Senses Center, has been awarded a $225,000 Klingenstein-Simons Fellowship Award in Neurosciences to study the role of gut signals in hunger-related neurons. Her research aims to improve understanding of diet-related diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes.
A systematic review led by McMaster University found that electronic cognitive behavioral therapy is more effective than face-to-face sessions in treating depression. The study revealed no difference in patient satisfaction or function between the two methods.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have identified over 40 genes expressed in the vLGN and discovered six new neuron subtypes, each with unique molecules and clustered in tightly packed striped layers. The study provides a more precise tool kit to understand the function of the vLGN and its downstream connections.
A $2.5 million Simons Foundation grant is supporting an international collaboration of neuroscientists to develop new tools for studying brain control over behavior across species, from songbirds to rats. The project aims to create a framework for understanding motor agility in any species or behavior.
A study of mice in semi-natural settings reveals that oxytocin can increase aggressive behavior as well as friendliness, depending on the environment. The findings suggest a more nuanced view of oxytocin's effects and highlight the need for complex environments to translate research findings to human behavior.
A study by researchers at Nanjing University found that synaptic variability allows the nervous system to generate variable motor programs, enabling flexibility and adaptability. This mechanism is crucial for learning new activities and adjusting to changing environments.
Researchers found that early genetic restoration of the SHANK3 gene rescued behaviors associated with autism spectrum disorder, including social interaction and repetitive grooming. The study suggests that genetic intervention in SHANK3-related ASD may be most effective earlier in development.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School have identified a population of neurons in the hypothalamus that controls hibernation-like behavior in mice. Stimulating these neurons induces torpor, while blocking their activity disrupts natural torpor, offering insights into the neural mechanisms underlying this state.
A decades-long study found that youth programs can have lasting positive effects on both participants and their children. The program, Raising Healthy Children, demonstrated benefits in behavior problems, developmental delays, and cognitive maturity.
Researchers developed a novel unbiased strategy to identify activated neural inputs underlying specific behaviors. Using mouse models, they demonstrated the input specificity of their approach, tracing activated cell ensembles.
Research at Binghamton University found that female college students exhibit reduced academic interest and increased impulsive behaviors with high alcohol use. The study suggests gender-based differences in brain function and metabolism contribute to these findings.
A recent study published in the Journal of Neuroscience found that high estrogen levels may increase feelings of reward in response to alcohol in female mice. The research suggests that treatment for alcohol use disorder may be more effective if sex differences are considered.
Researchers analyzed child brain activity using fMRI to predict working memory abilities during development. The study found that brain network activity in the frontoparietal network was unique to working memory and reflected individual capabilities.
Researchers at Max-Planck-Gesellschaft have created a miniature microscope that can capture neural activity in all cortical layers of freely behaving rats. This breakthrough technology allows for continuous imaging of neuron populations, even during complex behaviors, providing insights into the brain's circuit dynamics.
A recent study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence found sex-related differences in the effects of cannabis use on brain activity and subjective response. Neural activity primarily underlies response to cannabis cues, with no differences between male and female users, while female users exhibit more intense subjective craving.
A team of scientists developed an innovative method to study eye movements in mice, revealing two types of eye movement coupled to head movement: 'head tilt compensation' and 'saccade and fixate'. These findings validate using mice to study human brain disorders, including schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, and stroke.
Researchers describe four categories of self-nudging tools: reminders and prompts, framing decisions in a certain way, reducing accessibility of harmful options, and using social pressure. This behavioral science technique can help individuals negotiate internal conflicts and reach long-term goals.
Researchers from University of California, Davis, found that immune responses before pregnancy can predict behavioral deficits in offspring if the mother's immune system is activated during pregnancy. The study used a mouse model to identify baseline immunoreactivity as a predictor of resilience or susceptibility to immune activation.
Scientists discovered widespread synaptic changes in sea slugs that learn to reject non-food objects, offering insight into human learning's impact on the brain. The study found that synaptic modifications occur in concert across various brain areas.
A subset of retinal neurons sends inhibitory signals to the brain, affecting subconscious behaviors such as synchronizing circadian rhythms with light/dark cycles. This discovery sheds light on how eyes influence our behavior and vision in response to light intensity.
Researchers successfully combined rat spinal cords with tissue-engineered muscles, creating a biohybrid system that produces electrical activity causing contraction. This innovation could lead to breakthroughs in understanding diseases like Lou Gehrig's and developing new surgical training tools.
Researchers at the University of Virginia Health System have made a groundbreaking discovery suggesting that improper cellular cleanup during brain development may cause lifelong behavioral issues. This process, mediated by the AIM2 inflammasome, plays a critical role in ensuring proper brain assembly and function.
A recent study published in Alzheimer's & Dementia found a strong association between mild behavioral impairment (MBI) and amyloid plaque deposits in the brains of elderly individuals. MBI may potentially serve as an early indicator of Alzheimer's disease, allowing for earlier diagnosis and intervention.
Research suggests that individuals with autism spectrum disorder exhibit differences in attention regulation, which may be attributed to altered locus coeruleus activity. This study found that participants with autism displayed atypically smaller pupil dilations during a distraction task, indicating dysregulation in the brainstem.
Research in mice reveals that lactation temporarily changes how a mother's TIDA neurons regulate prolactin secretion, causing them to fire more frequently and out of rhythm. However, these changes are fully reversible after weaning, suggesting a unique adaptation to motherhood.
Researchers discovered the anterior lateral motor cortex plays a crucial role in integrating vast amounts of information to make decisions, surpassing previous understanding of its primary function. This finding highlights the brain's remarkable ability to adapt to context and informs scientists' larger understanding of brain function.
Researchers use physics and technology to track animal movement, revealing key findings on flock behavior, neural network tracking, and burrowing forces. By analyzing animal motion, scientists gain a deeper understanding of collective behavior and individual animal actions.
Researchers at McGill University have discovered at least nine directions of brain-gender variation using a unique dataset and machine learning algorithms. This finding has important consequences for promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion in Canada and beyond.
Researchers identify specific cortical area responsible for food addiction's loss of control over intake, linked to obesity and eating disorders. The study provides new insights into the neural mechanisms underlying addictive behavior in food, suggesting potential therapeutic targets.
Researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University discovered a mechanism employed by fruit flies to broaden our understanding of visual perception. The team found that L3 neurons, sensitive to brightness, are active in low-light conditions and play a crucial role in detecting sudden changes in luminance.
Psychologists from the University of Basel found that people focus their attention on the two most promising options when choosing between multiple alternatives. This leads to faster decisions and improved efficiency. The study's results propose a mathematical model describing dynamic interactions of preference formation and eye moveme...
A new study found that low-intensity exercise activates brain networks involved in cognitive control and attention processing, while high-intensity exercise primarily affects emotion processing. The results suggest a potential therapeutic strategy for neurological and psychiatric disorders.
Researchers discovered that the inferior colliculus in mice integrates sound and movement information, allowing for rapid and accurate responses to external sounds. This integration helps prevent movement-related sounds from interfering with hearing, promoting survival.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center found a molecule produced by the brain that reduces anxiety-causing connections between two brain regions. This discovery could lead to pharmacologic treatments regulating anxiety and depressive symptoms in people with stress-related anxiety disorders.
Researchers used high-speed cameras and computer algorithms to analyze the movements of larval zebrafish, identifying three distinct components of their prey capture behavior: orientation, approach, and capture. The study provides new insights into how the brain generates complex behaviors.
Researchers found that mice's visual capability changes between day and night due to their internal clock, not eye changes. They used a maze experiment to study how the circadian rhythm influences behavior and nerve signals in the retina.
Researchers at UNC School of Medicine found that specific neurons in the CeA contribute to reward-like behaviors and alcohol drinking. By selectively lesioning or ablating these neurons, animals drank less alcohol without affecting anxiety-like behavior.
Researchers discovered that myokine Dpp, produced by skeletal muscle, regulates feeding behavior by modulating dopamine levels in the brain. This finding sheds new light on the mechanisms governing feeding behavior and has implications for understanding metabolic diseases.
A study at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) suggests that pindolol, a blood pressure medication, can reduce anxiety-like behavior and neurogenic maladaptations in mice with long-term heavy alcohol consumption. The drug also restores damage caused by alcohol to new and immature neurons in the brain.
A new perspective piece challenges standard economic theory by highlighting individual trajectories over time. People's behavior often deviates from classical recommendations due to a lack of understanding of unique wealth evolution.
Researchers have mapped zebrafish brain regions involved in decision making, revealing how sensory information is integrated to trigger a behavior. The study uses whole-brain imaging and behavioral paradigms to demonstrate the accumulation of evidence over time.
Scientists outline 10 simple rules to ensure responsible use of computational modelling in behavioural sciences, avoiding common pitfalls and misinterpretations. The guidelines cover designing effective experiments, generating and validating models, and reporting on analyses.
Researchers at Princeton University have developed models to identify internal states of the brain in fruit flies. By analyzing song patterns and behavioral changes, they discovered three distinct strategies - Close, Chasing, and Whatever - linked to specific neurons controlling these shifts.
Researchers at Salk Institute discover a brain circuit controlling alcohol drinking behavior in mice, which can predict compulsive drinking. The study found that neural communication patterns between two brain regions are related to the development of compulsive drinking.
A new study uses deep neural networks to accurately assess neurological disorders in rats and mice, identifying key features of motor impairments. This breakthrough technology has the potential to standardize diagnosis and monitoring of neurological disorders, enabling early interventions and improved patient outcomes.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University have discovered that neural activity patterns can predict which individuals will develop compulsive drinking behaviors after a single binge drinking experience. The study identifies a specific cortical-brainstem circuit as a biomarker for the development of compulsive drinking behavior.
Research reveals that walking changes how we perceive our environment, especially in the peripheral visual field, which enhances processing for navigation. This shift in visual preference makes sense due to the role of peripheral input in tracking movement and direction.
A new study found that ketamine decreases alcohol consumption in high-consuming male rats, but has no effect on females. The drug may be a viable treatment option for male patients with an alcohol use disorder.
A new study from Michigan State University found that open monitoring meditation increased error recognition in non-meditators. The researchers measured brain activity using EEG and found a stronger neural signal about half a second after an error, indicating enhanced conscious error recognition.
A study on mice has created a set of objective measurements for personality, revealing the connection between genes, behavior, and individual traits. The researchers found that each mouse had a unique personality that consistently informed its behavior.
Researchers create algorithm to identify stable traits that capture mouse behavior, revealing unique individual characteristics and genetic basis. The method has potential to advance knowledge of mouse personality and its relation to mental health and disease.
Researchers at Pitt and CMU are developing an all-in-one implantable device that can record neural activity, identify cell type, and determine cell function through chemical stimulation. This innovation aims to provide more information on brain function and reduce invasive methods.
Researchers studied blue bottle fly landing behaviors using high-speed videography, uncovering a wide range of rotational maneuvers. The results suggest the flies may use neural processes and sensory cues for inverted landings, informing efforts to engineer small robotic fliers.
Researchers developed an agent that reduces toxic protein buildup in animal models of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, improving cognitive and motor behavior. The new compound CM101 specifically targets DDRs to switch on the garbage disposal in brain cells.
The researchers used BARseq to map the connections of 3,579 neurons in the auditory cortex of the mouse brain. This technology enables scientists to pinpoint the location of a neuron and determine its pattern of gene expression and physiological activity.
Researchers used a grip-force test to analyze sensorimotor function in people with the FMR1 premutation, identifying subtle symptoms and potential indicators of disease progression. The study aims to improve early diagnosis and treatment for Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) in at-risk individuals.
Researchers discovered a neurosteroid drug can correct behavioral problems and brain abnormalities caused by prenatal exposure to THC. This finding suggests a therapeutic approach for children born to mothers who used cannabis during pregnancy, highlighting the need for caution and guidance for pregnant women using cannabis.
Deep3DFly uses computer science and neuroscience to model fly movements and poses, enabling robots to climb challenging terrain. The system can automatically predict and correct errors in calculations, opening up new possibilities for robotics and medicine.
Researchers have developed a fluorescent probe that can image electrical activity in multiple neurons simultaneously, enabling the visualization of brain circuits and their relation to behavior. This technique uses a voltage-sensing molecule to record electrical activity on a millisecond timescale, providing more informative measuremen...