Articles tagged with Behavioral Neuroscience
A unique study of white-throated sparrows found a genetic pathway connecting aggression and parenting behaviors to specific genes, specifically the estrogen receptor alpha (ER-alpha) gene. The research showed that variation in ER-alpha expression predicted behavior in territorial aggression and parenting.
A new study demonstrates that ultrasound directed to a specific region of the human brain can enhance sensory perception. The technique showed significant improvements in distinguishing pins at closer distances and detecting small frequency differences.
Researchers at the University at Buffalo used optogenetics to stimulate dopamine neurons, reducing binge drinking behavior in rats. The technique has potential applications for treating alcoholism, mental illnesses, and neurological diseases.
Researchers identified a gene called Cyfip2 involved in the response to cocaine by comparing closely related mouse strains. The study suggests a potential link between this gene and human cocaine addiction, although further research is needed.
Researchers compared optogenetics and electrical stimulation in nonhuman primates, finding that both techniques increased accuracy in visual decision-making. Optogenetics showed advantages in precision and simultaneous recording of neural activity.
A study published in Cerebral Cortex found that mice raised without a father exhibited impaired social behavior, increased aggression, and altered brain anatomy. The findings suggest that paternal presence during critical growth periods is essential for healthy child development.
Researchers found that occupational therapy using sensory integration (OT-SI) provided better outcomes than standard care for children with autism. OT-SI therapy helps improve processing of sensation, leading to better participation in everyday activities.
Scientists at UCLA have made a breakthrough in understanding the biology of autism by mapping groups of autism-risk genes by function. They found that gene variants are expressed in the developing brain during critical processes, disrupting neural circuits and leading to miswiring between brain regions.
A new monkey study links impulsivity, rewards, and ADHD medication Ritalin, shedding light on the brain's reward processing mechanism. The study found that methylphenidate improved impulsive behavior in monkeys, but did not eliminate it, suggesting a potential link between the drug and temporal discounting.
A study of 1,300 students found that those who trained with Lumosity showed significant improvements in a battery of cognitive assessments. The effects were dose-dependent, with longer training sessions leading to greater gains.
Experiences can modify genes involved in memory formation and drug use, leading to long-term brain changes. This epigenetic phenomenon affects normal development and abnormal processes like depression and psychiatric disease.
Studies show that absence of serotonin receptors during early development leads to highly aggressive behavior in mice, while adolescents exhibit increased impulsivity to danger. The findings have potential applications for treating disorders related to impulsivity and aggression.
A recent study published in PLOS Biology reveals that a majority of rhythmic proteins are produced during two intervals of the circadian cycle, with proteins required for metabolism showing peak production during the day and those required for cell growth at night. This discovery provides new insights into the regulation of protein pro...
A University of Michigan researcher is using neurogenetics and behavioral studies to understand the development and treatment of antisocial behavior in boys. The study found that environment, including social support, moderates the link between over-reactive amygdala responses and anxious behavior.
Research by Véronique Bohbot reveals a direct link between stimulus-response learning and increased substance abuse, particularly smoking, alcohol and cannabis use. A developed striatum is associated with this behavior.
Researchers at Michigan State University developed a simple 'noun-verb' test to measure creativity, finding that those who gave creative answers in the test were indeed the most creative as measured by other methods. The test could help create better educational and training programs to foster creativity.
Khaleel Razak's research aims to develop therapies for age-related hearing problems and Fragile X Syndrome by studying how the brain processes everyday sounds. His lab will investigate neural computations that generate cortical maps underlying sound localization behavior in the pallid bat.
Researchers at Ohio State University discovered a link between newborn infections and later behavior and movement problems. The study found that inflammation in the brain blocks cells from accessing iron needed for brain development, leading to reduced myelination and behavioral impairments.
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory identified a class of inhibitory neurons called VIP interneurons, which specifically suppress activation of other inhibitory neurons. These VIP neurons modulate the balance between excitation and inhibition in the cerebral cortex.
Scientists have identified a protective pheromone, ESP22, in the tears of young mice that blocks adult mating behavior. This discovery provides insight into how sensory systems regulate social behavior and could lead to a better understanding of human behaviors.
A team of U-M neuroscientists reports that SIRP alpha plays a critical role in stabilizing the most active synaptic connections between brain cells. This finding may aid research on conditions like autism, schizophrenia, and intellectual disability, which are linked to abnormal synapse function.
A study has found that market bubbles leading to financial crashes may be self-made due to brain processes that help traders predict others' behavior. This research offers insight into the biology of financial decision-making, suggesting that unproductive behaviors can drive cycles of boom and bust.
Researchers from McMaster University found that pregnant women's nesting behavior is an adaptive mechanism to protect and prepare for childbirth. Women exhibit selective company choices and intense cleaning and organizing, peaking in the third trimester.
Researchers found that activating CREM accelerates therapeutic efficacy of current antidepressants, increasing nerve growth in the hippocampus and reducing treatment time to just one or two days. This discovery could lead to faster-acting drug targets for depression.
Scientists have developed a high-speed imaging technique with single-neuron resolution that can record the activity of 70% of nerve cells in a worm's head. This breakthrough allows for detailed maps of how neurons are wired up in the brain and information on how networks interact in real time.
Young people have difficulty learning from bad news, but are more likely to adapt to good news; campaigns targeting them should focus on positive benefits instead of risks
A USCB study reveals that diet experience can alter taste preferences in fruit flies, with changes occurring through a mechanism involving the degradation of TRPL protein and reduction in synaptic connections. Long-term camphor exposure causes a decline in TRPL levels and subsequent increase in taste acceptance.
A recent study published in Current Biology found that the brain represents the space near others in the same way it represents the space near itself. This shared representation could help individuals interact more efficiently and understand social cues more intuitively.
Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine found that inner-ear dysfunction can cause neurological changes leading to hyperactivity in mice. The study implicated two brain proteins involved in a signaling pathway that controls movement, providing potential targets for medication.
Researchers discovered a population of neurons in juvenile songbirds that enable the birds to recognize and learn vocal sounds. This finding could provide valuable insights into the neural mechanisms underlying human infant language acquisition.
New findings reveal that inhibitory neurons fire less frequently in young brains, allowing for heightened plasticity and learning. In contrast, adult brains exhibit stronger inhibitory neurons, which can impede learning and make it more difficult to acquire new skills.
Researchers will investigate the neural mechanisms behind empathy, compassion, and cooperation to define their evolutionary development. The project aims to determine if these traits are unique to humans or present in nonhuman primates.
A new Duke University study found that restaurant websites with easy-to-access calorie information can influence customer ordering decisions. Despite this, in-store marketing and psychological factors often override healthy options.
Dr. Deborah T. Gold, a renowned gerontologist, has been awarded the GSA's 2013 Distinguished Mentorship in Gerontology Award for her significant impact on the field. She is recognized for mentoring dozens of students who have gone on to take prominent roles in gerontology.
Researchers at UCLA invented a tool called research maps, which helps neuroscientists quickly scan existing knowledge, plan their next study, and optimize investments. The maps classify information into categories and score the weight of evidence based on criteria such as reproducibility and convergence.
Researchers at Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology discovered the cells responsible for processing motion in fruit flies, showing that motion information is processed independently in two separate pathways. The findings highlight the importance of understanding how neurons work together to enable complex behaviors.
A recent study has identified a third brain region, the orbital frontal cortex (OFC), critical for shifting between habitual and goal-directed actions. This discovery has important implications for understanding neuropsychiatric disorders where habit balance is disrupted.
Researchers at Cardiff University have linked hormonal imbalance in the womb to anxiety and possible vulnerability to poor mental health in adults. Changes in placental function have been implicated in emotional behavior and brain gene expression related to this type of behavior.
Researchers discovered a genetic mutation in zebrafish that causes chronic stress and depression-like behavior. Adding an antidepressant restored normal behavior, suggesting a link between cortisol regulation and affective disorders.
A University of Pittsburgh study found that diets lacking omega-3 fatty acids can worsen effects over consecutive generations, particularly affecting teens. Adolescents with omega-3 deficiencies showed increased anxiety and hyperactivity, impaired learning and memory, and problem-solving abilities.
Dr. David Foster, an assistant professor of neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, has been awarded the 2013 Freedman Prize Honorable Mention for his exceptional basic research on the neural basis of memory. His work combines advanced electrophysiological, computational, and behavioral approaches to investigate th...
UCLA researchers measure brain responses to sexual images in hypersexual individuals, finding that brain response is tied only to level of sexual desire, not severity of hypersexuality. This challenges existing theories of sex 'addiction', suggesting it may be a cluster of problems rather than an addiction.
A large study led by researchers at the University of New South Wales found that oxytocin nasal spray did not improve symptoms of children with autism. The study suggests caution in recommending oxytocin as a general treatment for young people with autism, possibly due to impaired oxytocin receptor systems.
Researchers used fMRI to investigate the neural origins of hot flashes in postmenopausal women. They found that activity in brain regions like the brain stem and insula rises before and after the hot flash, respectively. The study provides novel insights into the complex brain mechanisms underlying this common menopause symptom.
A UCLA study shows that a four-week program teaching yoga-based breathing practices can significantly reduce impulsive behavior in adolescents, leading to improved emotional regulation and decision-making skills. The program was found to be effective in reducing impulsive acts such as drug abuse, risky sexual behaviors, and violence.
A new rat brain study reveals that sensory information travels to two places at once: the thalamus and deeper cerebral cortex layers. Signals are relayed from the thalamus to both layer 4 and 5 simultaneously, contradicting decades of dogma.
Researchers at the University of Zurich found that brain areas communicate differently based on the task to be solved, with specific neurons activated for distinct tasks, and this can help develop therapies for impaired cognitive abilities in patients with Alzheimer's disease, Autism, and Schizophrenia.
A study published by Max-Planck-Gesellschaft found that hunger modifies brain pathways and behavior, causing hungry individuals to take more risks. In fruit flies, a specific nerve cell transports carbon dioxide information to the mushroom body, triggering flight responses in hungry but not fed animals.
A solitary mutation in the SYNGAP1 gene can destroy critical 'windows' of early brain development, leading to behavioral and intellectual problems. This research sheds light on the early development of neural circuits in the cortex.
A team of neuroscientists mapped brain-cell activity in fruit flies to understand smell recognition. They found that a small number of neurons are required to distinguish between different odors, suggesting the importance of sparseness in signal transmission.
A new NIH grant will support research at UC Irvine's Conte Center on Brain Programming in Mental Disorders, exploring how maternal signals and care before and after birth influence adolescent cognitive and emotional problems. The study aims to identify children vulnerable to mental health disorders and develop effective treatments.
Eve Marder's groundbreaking discoveries have fundamentally changed our understanding of how neural circuits operate and produce behavior. Her research on the stomatogastric ganglion has broad implications for studying neurological diseases like schizophrenia, depression, and chronic pain.
Researchers at MIT have made significant progress in understanding the neural mechanisms of compulsive behavior by activating a specific brain circuit that controls compulsive behavior. By using optogenetics, they were able to block compulsive behavior in mice and demonstrate potential new approaches for treating diseases such as OCD.
A team of Indiana University neuroscientists has identified GLT1, a protein clearing glutamate from the brain, as critical to cocaine craving. The researchers found ceftriaxone, an antibiotic, increases GLT1 production and decreases craving in rats withdrawing from cocaine. This combination may lead to new treatments for addiction.
A nationwide poll of over 18,500 adults found that healthy behaviors like exercise and a balanced diet are associated with better self-perceived memory abilities. Those who engaged in more than three healthy behaviors were 111% less likely to report memory problems.
Researchers developed a new model that integrates both historical and psychological perspectives on art appreciation. This approach acknowledges the importance of artistic understanding in assessing value and meaning, and can be applied to various forms of art.
Researchers from CSHL have identified key circuit elements that contribute to 'stay or go' decisions in the anterior cingulate cortex. The activity of specific inhibitory neurons, SOM and PV neurons, correlates with start and end of foraging behavior in mice.
Researchers suggest that food addiction could explain the current global obesity epidemic, with high-fructose corn syrup causing behavioural reactions similar to those produced by cocaine. Dr. Leri's study found shared vulnerability to develop preferences for sweet foods and cocaine in laboratory animals.
New research shows that craving drugs like nicotine can be visualized in specific brain regions, suggesting abnormal interactions between decision-making brain areas could underlie addiction. Dr. Alain Dagher's study found that the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex regulates cigarette craving in response to drug cues.
A UCI study found that a low-cost, at-home treatment involving sensory exercises with common household items significantly improved the behaviors and cognitive function of children with autism. After six months of therapy, 42% of children showed significant improvement in behaviors commonly affected by autism.