Articles tagged with Behavioral Neuroscience
A new study found that a spike in acetylcholine in the right prefrontal cortex activates response to signals, suggesting a potential brain mechanism for switching between behaviors. The findings have implications for treating disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder and autism.
A new study suggests that environmental enrichment, which involves sensory stimulation and play, can significantly improve behaviors in autistic children. The therapy was found to be effective even for older children up to age 12, whereas traditional treatments are typically most effective at a young age.
Leslie Ungerleider will receive the inaugural Andrew Carnegie Prize in Mind and Brain Sciences for her groundbreaking research on brain functions and their relevance to public health. Her neurobehavioral theory has revolutionized the understanding of human vision, setting high standards for cognitive neuroscience.
Researchers identified key differences in gene expression between rock- and sand-dweller brains during development and used small molecules to manipulate developmental pathways. The study showed that competing molecular signals during brain development generate natural and adaptive differences in the telencephalon earlier than thought,...
Researchers at UC San Diego found that rats adopt a new chemical code when exposed to large changes in day and night cycle, leading to anxiety and depression. The discovery opens up new ways to treat brain disorders like Parkinson's by switching neurotransmitters.
Researchers used DBS to stimulate the nucleus accumbens, a region involved in reward, and found significant reduction in binge-eating behavior in mice. The study suggests that activity in the brain's reward centers drives overeating despite known negative health consequences.
Scientists have identified key motor behaviors and interventions that can help non-verbal autistic children learn to speak. Motor mimicking behavior plays a crucial role in language development, and picture exchange training has shown promising results.
A new study by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that deep brain stimulation can curb binge eating in obese animals, leading to weight loss and improved glucose sensitivity. The therapy targets the dopamine type-2 receptor, providing therapeutic relief for obesity-related behaviors.
Researchers found that anti-smoking ads with strong arguments trigger brain activity associated with behavioral change and lead to less nicotine in smokers' urine. The study suggests that ad content is more important than format or special effects for reducing tobacco intake.
The researchers are being honored for their contributions to the discovery and applications of optogenetics, a technology that allows scientists to control brain activity by genetically engineering neurons. Hundreds of labs have started using the technique to manipulate brain activity in experimental animals.
A new study using fMRI brain scans aims to detect memories and identify lies. Researchers have successfully decoded patterns of brain activity associated with recognition, but struggled to determine actual past experiences. The technology's limitations raise questions about its use in legal settings.
Researchers found diverse consequences of opioid use in patients with sickle cell disease, including biological, psychological, social, and spiritual effects. The study used a grounded theory approach to gather data from 21 African-American adults with SCD, revealing divergent effects on relationships, productivity, mood, and outlook.
A study published in Neuron found that rats achieved optimal performance in less than 300 milliseconds, indicating that taking more time doesn't necessarily lead to better decisions. The researchers suggest that, for certain types of decisions, relying on intuition may be the most effective approach.
A study suggests that humans rely on past experiences to predict future outcomes, which can lead to irrational decisions in games of chance. This strategy may contribute to problem gambling behavior and is resistant to current behavioral intervention strategies.
Researchers at Cornell University found that brain activity patterns in the medial prefrontal cortex can accurately identify an individual's thought process about a person. This unique ability allows us to anticipate behavior and navigate social interactions with greater ease.
Researchers created a novel low-power device that enables the recording of complex neural signals in freely moving subjects for over 16 months. The device, which transmits data wirelessly, has the potential to revolutionize brain-computer interfaces and help people with severe paralysis control devices with their thoughts.
Researchers successfully transmitted tactile and motor information between rat brains, enabling behavioral puzzle-solving. The brain-to-brain interface allowed for two-way communication, with the decoder rat achieving a success rate of about 70 percent.
Researchers found that adding simple movements to mental rehearsal improved performance by 45% for high jumpers, compared to 35% with internal visual imagery. Dynamic imagery also shortened the number of jumps required.
Researchers at UC San Diego found that glutamate binding to NMDA receptors causes conformational changes leading to weakened synapses and impaired brain function. Beta amyloid peptide also weakens synapses by causing similar conformational changes.
Nicole Calakos studies synaptic defects in the basal ganglia that underlie compulsive behavior, including Huntington's and Parkinson's diseases. Mice with overactive metabotropic glutamate receptors exhibit impaired synaptic plasticity, leading to obsessive-like behaviors.
Researchers discovered a genetic mutation in CELF6 that disrupts serotonin signaling and leads to common autism behaviors like communication difficulties and resistance to change. The findings provide new insights into the biological pathways underlying autism.
A new study from the Scripps Research Institute found that a complex set of overlapping neuronal circuits in fruit flies drives temperature preferences. The research used imaging techniques to visualize neuron activity and showed that dopaminergic neurons process multiple inputs to generate outputs, influencing behavior.
New research reveals insulin's role in reducing desire for food after eating, impacting environmental triggers of overeating. The study found that insulin affects the ventral tegmental area, a region linked to reward-seeking behavior and addictive behaviors.
EPFL researchers find correlation between childhood psychological trauma and neurological changes similar to those found in violent humans. The study demonstrates that traumatic experiences in pre-adolescent rats lead to altered brain function, including reduced orbitofrontal cortex activation and increased aggression.
A study found that older brains struggle to filter out unnecessary information, leading to reduced learning and memory capabilities. The researchers discovered a link between the NMDA receptor and long-term depression, which is essential for sculpting memories and eliminating unnecessary information.
Research at George Washington University reveals that genetic lesions associated with autism disrupt cellular mechanisms for interneuron development. LaMantia found that the Cxcr4 cytokine receptor plays a crucial role in regulating interneuron migration.
A new study comparing neural responses of birds and humans to music suggests that both share a neural reward system, with females in the breeding state responding similarly to human music. Male birds also exhibit an amygdala response to discordant sounds.
A study published in Nature reveals that normalizing excessive protein synthesis in the brain can partially remedy autistic-like behaviors in laboratory mice. The researchers found that reducing protein production reversed behaviors such as repetitive actions and improved social interaction.
A new study found that even small strokes can harm neural tissue and alter behavior in rats. Blocking tiny blood vessels in the brain can lead to micro-lesions reminiscent of those seen in dementia patients. The FDA-approved drug memantine showed promise in mitigating these effects.
A group of parasites hijack their victims' nervous systems, reducing them to helpless zombies. These manipulators can have a significant impact on ecology, physiology, and evolution, orchestrating the behaviour of vertebrates and invertebrates.
Scientists have identified a 500 million-year-old genetic mutation that enabled complex thinking in humans and other mammals. This 'accident' provided the ability to learn and adapt, which is now associated with both intelligent behavior and brain diseases.
A new study from the University of Maryland School of Medicine has identified the orbitofrontal cortex as a critical brain area involved in value-guided behavior, decision-making, and learning. The research suggests that damage to this area can lead to decreased ability to use prior experience to make good decisions.
Researchers identified groups of neurons that encode specific behavioral rules by oscillating in synchrony with each other. The study found that the nature of conscious thought may be rhythmic, and that disruptions in brain waves could contribute to neurological disorders such as schizophrenia.
Classic studies on obedience and conformity have been revisited to show that people do not blindly conform but actively identify with and believe in the authority's actions. The authors' own prison experiment found that participants only acted in terms of group membership and empowered themselves to resist their assigned position.
Researchers found that brain activity oscillates in sync with sounds we hear, influencing our ability to detect fleeting gaps in music. The study's findings suggest that the brain uses rhythmic fluctuations to prepare for important incoming information, potentially aiding individuals with hearing loss or stuttering.
The University of Granada and the Michael J. Fox Foundation have developed advanced imaging techniques to diagnose Parkinson's disease, improving accuracy and reducing reliance on expert analysis. The new methods utilize machine learning algorithms to analyze brain function and image data, demonstrating promising results in diagnosis.
A new study from MIT neuroscientists has found that the brain's prefrontal cortex has a small region responsible for controlling which habits are switched on at a given time. The researchers used optogenetics to inhibit this region, allowing them to break and form new habits in rats.
A new study suggests that moderate drinking can decrease brain cell production by up to 40% in adults, leading to potential harm on learning and memory. Researchers found that rats exposed to low levels of alcohol showed reduced nerve cells in the hippocampus, a crucial area for new learning.
A researcher at Georgia State University is studying how the body's internal clock is reset, which could lead to a better understanding of sleep disorders and other health issues. The grant-funded project aims to uncover the chemical process involved in resetting the clock using light exposure.
A team of MIT neuroscientists has created a way to monitor brain-cell activity by detecting calcium ions, which could provide insights into the origins of autism and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The technique allows for pinpointing specific cell types involved in psychiatric diseases.
Researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee have identified a critical brain receptor that regulates extinction learning, which helps addicts stop drug use. By stimulating this receptor, drugs or molecular pathways could boost the effectiveness of exposure therapies and reduce craving and relapse.
Researchers have found that abnormal eye movements in amblyopia are caused by changes in the brain's subcortical regions. The study, published in Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience, suggests that these changes may be an attempt to enhance contrast sensitivity in visually impaired eyes.
Research highlights sleep's role in shaping memory, learning, and behavior, with implications for dementia, obesity, and mental health. Sleep deprivation poses significant risks to these areas, emphasizing the importance of a good night's rest.
Researchers propose innovative treatments for alcohol dependence, including motor rehabilitation to increase inhibitory control and environmental enrichment to reduce craving. These approaches aim to improve treatment outcomes and reduce the health and social costs associated with addiction.
Adolescents are more likely to take risks when consequences are unknown, rather than being attracted to danger. Informing adolescents about likelihoods can reduce risky behaviors.
Researchers identified a new drug target for epilepsy in human brain tissue, which also shows promise for treating behavioral disorders. The study found that specific brain layers are activated during seizures and linked to increased synapses, leading to abnormal neuronal synchrony.
Researchers found that testosterone-treated subjects lied less frequently than placebo-treated subjects in a dice game experiment. This result challenges the common perception of testosterone as promoting aggressive behavior and suggests that it may increase pride and the need for self-image.
Cohen's research reveals that when the mind wanders, so too do our perceptual abilities, with a significant decrease in ability to detect subtle changes. Her method allows for measuring the effect of internal states on behavior, offering new insights into attention and perception.
Scientists at Caltech identified competing brain systems that guide decisions on healthy options. The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and ventromedial prefrontal cortex play different roles in self-regulation, with the former taking control when trying to suppress cravings and the latter taking over when encouraging desires.
Research by Carnegie Mellon University neuroscientists reveals that autistic adults exhibit poor response reliability in sensory systems, including vision, hearing, and touch. This fundamental neural characteristic may contribute to behavioral changes and social interactions difficulties in autism.
A new video article in Journal of Visualized Experiments uses fMRI to characterize subjective risk assessment while subjects choose between different lotteries. The research aims to understand normal and pathological behaviors, such as substance abuse and over-eating, by examining how individuals evaluate risk.
Researchers discovered that brown capuchin monkeys were more prosocial when given the opportunity to alternate and help each other, but not when tracking individual past choices. This suggests that reciprocity fosters generosity in humans as well, regardless of familiarity or group affiliation.
Researchers study a person with extensive brain damage to regions believed critical for self-awareness, finding he remains self-aware despite damaged areas. The study suggests that self-awareness emerges from distributed interactions among networks of brain regions, not confined to specific areas.
A study published in PNAS found that different regions of the frontal lobes are responsible for behavioral control and decision making. The researchers mapped brain lesions in over 300 patients and showed that damage to specific areas can impair reasoning and decision-making abilities.
A mysterious region in the human brain, called the pulvinar, acts as a switchboard operator that sorts through external stimuli and focuses on relevant information. This discovery could lead to new ways of understanding and treating attention-related disorders like ADHD and schizophrenia.
A study at the University of Pittsburgh has identified a brain area responsible for using past decisions and outcomes to guide future behavior, suggesting that living in the moment is impossible due to the need for continuity of thought. The frontal eye field and supplementary eye field were found to play key roles in metacognition.
Child psychological abuse is linked to disorders of attachment, developmental and educational problems, socialization problems and disruptive behaviour. The effects of psychological maltreatment during the first three years of life can be particularly profound.
Researchers found two new potassium channels, SK3 and GIRK, that activate the vomeronasal organ's pheromone detection, overriding previous theories on sensory neuron function. The discovery provides clues to innate behaviors in humans and challenges existing knowledge on the VNO's role.
A Baylor University study suggests that providing restitution can facilitate forgiveness, but pairing it with an apology is crucial. The research found that participants were more likely to show forgiving behavior if they received restitution, whereas self-reported apologies led to a higher rate of reported forgiveness.
A groundbreaking study in evolutionary analysis in law reveals that chimpanzees, like humans, show the endowment effect, with behavior influenced by an object's immediate situational usefulness. The research provides evidence that this psychological trait likely evolved prior to the human split from other species.