Articles tagged with Behavioral Neuroscience
A new imaging technique has enabled scientists to measure mouse satiety and hunger levels in the brain, offering a more objective understanding of why people become obese. The study used magnetic resonance imaging to observe neuronal activity in the hypothalamus area, revealing that certain neurons 'light up' when mice are hungry or full.
A study by UCLA researchers has identified brain circuits involved in hunger that are influenced by leptin, a hormone produced by fat cells. Leptin supplementation reduced activation in regions linked to hunger while enhancing activation in regions linked to inhibition and satiety in three adults with congenital leptin deficiency.
Cold Spring Harbor Protocols features two new methods for neuroscience research: a step-by-step approach to prepare brain slices from rats or mice for growth in culture and how to properly assess courtship behavior in male fruit flies. These protocols allow researchers to examine the structure and function of neurons in their native en...
A new study reveals that the CRF2 hormone receptor system is involved in both feeding behavior and stress responses, suggesting it may not be an ideal target for obesity treatments. The researchers found that stimulating this receptor increased stress-like behaviors and reduced food intake, but not without inducing anxiety-like effects.
Research by McMaster University suggests that men's voice pitch affects reproductive success. Men with low-pitched voices have higher reproductive success and more children born to them, while women prefer deeper male voices as more dominant and masculine sounding. The study offers insight into the evolution of human voice preferences.
A new eating model, ecSatter, suggests that managing weight and staying healthy requires a positive experience of eating. The model, developed by Ellyn Satter and Barbara Lohse, emphasizes permission and discipline to cultivate effective eating attitudes and behavior.
Four young University of Chicago scientists, Margaret Gardel and Rustem Ismagilov, will receive $2.5 million each for biological research over five years. Additionally, Kristen Jacobson and Dorothy Sipkins will receive $1.5 million each for psychiatric and medical research, respectively.
Researchers developed a method for culturing mammalian neurons in small chambers, extending their lifespan to up to 11 days at low density. The technique, described in the journal Lab on a Chip, uses miniaturization and perfusion methods to increase purity and analyze cellular secretions.
Researchers discovered that mice without a key brain protein exhibited OCD-like behavior, including compulsive grooming and anxiety. Restoring the protein improved behaviors, suggesting a possible synaptic defect as the cause of OCD-like symptoms.
Researchers at UCLA developed a mathematical model to assess the severity and predict the consequences of Staphylococcus Aureus outbreaks in the Los Angeles County Jail. The model identified that continuous inflow of colonized individuals is the primary cause of sustained outbreaks.
In a study by Yale University researchers, older mice benefited from either physical exercise alone or combined with mental enrichment. For younger and middle-aged mice, exercise was key to improving spatial memory. The findings suggest that cognitive stimulation can help compensate for declining memory as people age.
Researchers at Tufts University have identified a specific population of glial cells required for controlling circadian behavior in Drosophila, suggesting an autonomous glial mechanism drives circadian rhythms. The study's findings have broad implications for understanding diseases affected by altered biological timing mechanisms.
Gambel's white-crowned sparrows use testosterone to trigger seasonal growth of brain regions responsible for song production. The study found that deafened birds still grew larger song control areas as large as hearing birds, but sang less often.
Researchers used TMS to measure mirror neuron activity in response to American and Nicaraguan gestures, finding higher activity when observing shared culture. This study suggests culture shapes brain's neural mechanisms, influencing behavior and potentially informing motor skill and language learning.
African naked mole-rats live in colonies where only the queen reproduces, suppressing fertility in females and males around her through bullying. This stress-induced block to puberty is thought to affect hormone regulation and reproductive tract development. Understanding the mechanisms behind this social suppression could lead to insi...
MIT researchers have reversed symptoms of mental retardation and autism in mice with Fragile X Syndrome, a leading inherited cause of the conditions. The study identifies p21-activated kinase as a key enzyme that can be inhibited to reverse symptoms.
Researchers discovered that African electric fish engage in 'electric duets' during aquatic courtship, using specific signals and motor displays. The study provides insight into the electrical and behavioral patterns of mating in these fish.
Scientists at University College London discovered that autistic children can understand people's behavior based on stereotypes, such as gender and race. This ability can be used to aid their learning and socialization, and may even help them integrate better into society.
The 2007 L’Oréal USA Fellows are recognized for their innovative research in earth science, neuroscience, oceanography, physical chemistry, and biomedical engineering. Their work tackles key scientific issues and has the potential to shape the future of science and address global challenges.
A recent study has found that maternal alcohol use during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of extreme preterm delivery. The effects are more pronounced among women aged 30 years and older. Researchers also found that cocaine use was associated with an increased risk, while smoking had a lesser impact.
Research suggests that antidepressants and psychological therapies like hypnotherapy can alleviate IBS symptoms. Cognitive behavioural therapy is also effective in managing IBS, with benefits lasting longer than medication treatment.
A new study at Ohio State University found that estrogens increase aggression in mice during short days and decrease it during long days. The researchers identified the mechanisms underlying this interaction, revealing a genomic pathway for estrogen's effects in long-day mice and a different cellular mechanism for short-day mice.
A UCLA imaging study found that autistic children with impaired imitation and empathy skills have reduced activity in the mirror-neuron system, a neural mechanism for automatic understanding of others' actions. This suggests that this system may be the underlying cause of these symptoms.
Current health policy based on voluntary vaccinations is not enough to control severe flu epidemics and pandemics unless vaccination programs offer incentives to individuals. Free vaccinations for entire families could actually increase the frequency of severe epidemics, according to UCLA researchers.
A new study by UCLA researchers suggests that current US control strategies for flu epidemics may not be effective and could even make outbreaks worse. The study found that providing free vaccinations to entire families can actually increase the frequency of severe epidemics due to decreased adaptability among household members.
The study aims to identify ways to diagnose and treat aging-related diseases earlier, using chimpanzees and rhesus macaques compared to humans with Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment. The researchers hope to develop new treatments based on specific physiological changes.
Project Strive, a UCLA research project, aims to reconnect chronically homeless teens with their families, teaching them skills to manage conflict and prevent further runaways. The intervention program offers five short-term sessions between parents and adolescents, focusing on emotional management, communication, and problem-solving.
Thirteen interdisciplinary research teams from UT Southwestern, UT Arlington, and UT Dallas have received grants totaling $1.3 million to pursue collaborative projects. The projects aim to stimulate efforts at the interface between biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, computer science, and mathematics.
Researchers found that red-breasted nuthatches can distinguish between high and low danger threats from the alarm calls of black-capped chickadees. The nuthatches' behavior suggests they learn to interpret the calls through complex social interactions, highlighting their intelligence and adaptability.
Researchers found that people with a specific variation of the PERIOD3 gene, which regulates morning and evening activity levels, experience poor attention and working memory during early morning hours when kept awake. Those with this gene variant spend more time in slow-wave sleep when allowed to sleep normally.
Researchers at the Salk Institute found that brain area sizes must be optimally tuned to perform tasks, with underperforming mice exhibiting reduced tactile and motor behaviors. Genetic manipulation in mice revealed a correlation between area size and performance, which was reversed by genetic rescue experiments.
A study using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging identified the neural networks involved in processing reward-related functions modulated by female gonadal steroid hormones. The research found that women exhibit increased reactivity in regions dealing with emotions, such as the amygdalo-hippocampal region, during the follicular phase.
Researchers have developed a new model of Parkinson's disease in fruit flies, confirming the link between dopamine and a mutant form of the parkin protein. The study found that a single copy of the mutation was toxic to dopaminergic neurons, leading to motor dysfunction.
A study by Stanford researchers found that while 41% of autism research deals with brain and behavior, only 11% of media coverage addresses these topics. Instead, 48% focus on environmental causes, such as the childhood MMR vaccine, highlighting a stark disconnect between scientific research and public perception.
Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch discovered a potential method to prevent failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) by applying a local anesthetic, Lidocaine, to the exposed spinal cord before surgery. The technique successfully blocked the release of chemicals associated with FBSS and reduced sensitivity in rats.
Researchers found that individuals with a preference for immediate rewards had more active ventral striatum regions, which may indicate risk for addictions and gambling problems. The study suggests that understanding individual differences in ventral striatal sensitivity could aid efforts to treat impulsive behavior.
Researchers at UCL and Imperial College London found that positive sounds like laughter trigger a brain response similar to smiling. This response occurs in the premotor cortical region, preparing facial muscles for laughter, and may play a role in building strong bonds between individuals.
A study by Harvard Medical School researchers found that a gene called 'fruitless' is responsible for sex-specific behaviors in fruit flies, including fighting patterns. The findings provide a new model for understanding the biology of aggression and its neural circuitry.
Researchers found that connecting sounds with rewards triggers significant changes in the brain's sensory cortex, enabling better behavioral responses. This study has wide implications for learning and cognitive development, particularly in individuals with language learning impairments like dyslexia.
A new study found that short days increase estrogen's effects on male mice's aggression, while long days decrease it. The researchers identified the mechanisms behind this interaction, which may have implications for human aggression and cancer.
A study by Oregon Health & Science University researchers found that stress triggers a relapse of methamphetamine abuse in mice, validating human studies. The researchers used a compound to mimic metabolic changes during stress and found it was effective in reinstating drug-seeking behavior.
Juvenile hamsters on low doses of fluoxetine exhibit longer and more intense attacks compared to adults. The study suggests that brain maturity during puberty affects drug response, leading researchers to investigate potential negative effects on developing nervous systems.
A new study by University of Florida researchers found that almost all decaffeinated coffee contains some measure of caffeine. This can be a concern for people with medical conditions like hypertension or anxiety disorders who are advised to cut their caffeine intake.
Researchers found that a mammary pheromone in mother's milk facilitates newborns' ability to quickly associate environmental odors with the opportunity to nurse. This learning is efficient from birth and promotes essential skills like suckling instincts.
Researchers have identified a gene mutation in fruit flies that regulates sensitivity to alcohol. The study found that some fruit flies were more resistant to alcohol's sedative effects, and the researchers isolated the specific genetic mutation responsible.
Researchers re-examine the nature of amnesia, questioning whether it's a defect in memory storage or recovery. They propose novel experimental approaches to evaluate the neurobiological basis of memory impairment, building on existing studies of amnesia.
The Methamphetamine Abuse Research Center (MARC) will investigate the genetic basis of addiction and develop targeted therapies. The center aims to create educational programs for school-age children and provide clinical treatments for rural patients affected by meth use.
Researchers discovered that younger people struggle to ignore secondary targets due to an undeveloped frontal cortex, leading to rapid eye movements and multiple saccades. This study may hold clues for understanding developmental delays in cerebral palsy patients.
Researchers find that chronic stress can lead to damage in the brain and body, but also note that certain behaviors like exercise, social support, and coping techniques can modify these effects. Healthy centenarians exhibit slower insulin rates, higher thyroid hormones, and lower cortisol levels compared to younger adults.
A study published in Developmental Science found that children's attention skills are not yet adult-like until the early teens. Children aged 6-10 struggled to detect changes in their environment, revealing a fundamental difference in their perceptual abilities compared to adults.
Researchers found that a command hormone called ecdysis-triggering hormone (ETH) orchestrates activities in discrete groups of peptide neurons in the brain, initiating innate behaviors such as escape and defensive maneuvers. This discovery could lead to manipulation of behavior in animals and intelligent robots.
Researchers found that nicotine exposure in rat fetuses led to impaired auditory processing and cognitive deficits. The study suggests that prenatal nicotine exposure damages brain receptors, affecting sound sensitivity and higher cognitive functions.
Johns Hopkins researchers show that psilocybin can induce mystical/spiritual experiences descriptively identical to those reported for centuries. Subjects who underwent the experience reported positive changes in behavior and attitude, lasting several months. The study's results have significant implications for our understanding of hu...
Research suggests genetics play a role in aggression, but maternal nurturing can mitigate this effect. Variations in serotonin genes are linked to aggressive behavior, especially among men with lower education levels.
The study, led by Dr Nathaniel Daw and Dr John O'Doherty, used fMRI scans to measure brain activity while subjects gambled for money. Most people switch between exploring and exploiting strategies seamlessly, making it hard to distinguish between them.
Researchers present findings on the impact of stress, puberty, and prenatal programming on brain development and behavior. The studies explore the role of oxytocin in reducing stress during marital conflict and examine the effects of chronic stress on brain mechanisms.
The 2006 winners of the NWO/Spinoza Prize are Prof. J.M. Bensing for her work on doctor-patient communication, Prof. C.G. Figdor for his pioneering dendritic cell therapy, Prof. B.J.G. Scheres for discovering stem cell role in plant roots, and Prof. J.J. Zaanen for high-temperature superconductivity research.
Research studies will explore neuroendocrine changes throughout the lifespan, including potential secrets to longevity and stress reduction. The congress will also examine the links between nature and nurture in disease development and abnormal behaviors.
A study found that ramelteon, a new sleep medication, does not instigate the same cognitive effects as other commonly prescribed sleep aids. The research suggests that ramelteon is unlikely to promote benzodiazepine-type dependence and may be a safer alternative for treating insomnia.
Researchers found correlations between DNA variants in the D4 receptor gene and self-reported sexual desire, arousal, and function. Variants affecting dopamine levels were shown to influence sexual behavior.