Articles tagged with Behavioral Neuroscience
In a study published in PLOS Biology, researchers found that parietal neurons selectively track target location during visual search tasks. Adding distractors decreased parietal neuron firing rates, reducing target-related response and correlating with increased reaction times.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center discovered a novel pheromone detection mechanism in fruit flies, where the pheromone docks onto LUSH protein before activating nerve cells. This finding may lead to developing compounds that block pheromone action, controlling pest behavior.
A study found that chronic grief activates neurons in reward centers of the brain, which may give memories addiction-like properties. This research may help psychologists treat those with complicated grief better.
Dr. Mariana Pereira has been awarded a $60,000 grant from NARSAD to continue her preclinical studies on the effects of postpartum stress on substance abuse in women. Her research aims to understand how cocaine hijacks normal motivational patterns in the postpartum female.
Research suggests a strong association between depression, sleep deprivation, and suicidal behavior in children and adolescents. Sleep complaints during depressive episodes can be an indicator of suicidal behavior, particularly in pediatric bipolar disorder patients.
A recent Mayo Clinic study found that rural, unmarried women have lower self-rated health status and are more prone to depression compared to their married counterparts. The study suggests that primary care physicians should take a proactive role in addressing health concerns of single women.
Research at UCLA found that interventions addressing early life experiences, including childhood sexual abuse, can reduce high-risk sex and depressive symptoms among HIV-positive African American and Hispanic men. Social support within the groups played a significant role in these positive changes.
Gabapentin has been shown to normalize the action of brain cells altered by chronic alcohol abuse in an area known as the central amygdala. The study found that gabapentin reduced anxiety-like behaviors and decreased the strength of inhibitory synapses in dependent rats, but not in non-dependent rats.
Researchers at UCSF have made a groundbreaking discovery on how neurons coordinate to generate movement. Individual neurons do not fire independently across the entire duration of a motor function as previously thought but instead coordinate their activity with other neurons. The study revealed that each neuron encodes different aspec...
Dr. Tracy Rupp won the National Sleep Foundation Young Investigator Award for her work on sleep extension and its effects on performance and task acquisition. She demonstrated that extended sleep has a 'banked' recuperative value, contrary to current thinking.
A study by UC Davis researchers found that an ocean odor, DMSP, attracts reef fish that feed on plankton, providing insight into marine ecology. The release of DMSP also promotes cloud formation, cooling the Earth through reduced sunlight reflection.
Research reveals that wandering albatrosses follow the direction of scent plumes to locate food sources, often flying crosswind and zigzagging into the wind towards meals. This unique hunting strategy allows them to cover a wide strip of ocean while conserving energy.
A new study from the UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute suggests that brain-directed antibodies during pregnancy may be a causal factor for some cases of autism. The research found that exposure to IgG antibodies in pregnant monkeys exhibited repetitive behaviors similar to those seen in children with autism.
Researchers found that rats given artificial sweetener saccharin consumed more calories, gained weight, and did not compensate later. The study suggests that breaking the connection between sweetness and high-calorie food can confuse the body's ability to regulate intake.
A new study found that eyeblink conditioning can identify children with probable fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and those without distinctive FAS features. Researchers used eyeblink conditioning in five-year-old children born to mixed-ancestry women, finding a deficit in this area related to prenatal alcohol exposure.
A new review integrates psychological and biological theories of autism, which may help medical professionals detect conditions such as Asperger's Disorder at an earlier stage. This approach could lead to better explanations for parents worried about their child's behaviour and potentially improve remediation.
A study by Penn State researchers found that daily alcohol consumption causes changes in male fruit fly sexual behavior, including increased arousal and decreased inhibition. The research also discovered that repeated exposure to ethanol leads to behavioral sensitization, where flies engage in more inter-male courtship.
Research at Rockefeller University reveals that flies use stereo cues to navigate towards scented targets more accurately when detecting smells with both olfactory organs. By exploiting infrared technology, scientists created an environment where they could visualize and quantify the distribution of smells.
Researchers at the Research Institute of Molecular Pathology have identified a molecular switch responsible for the behavioral changes in female fruit flies after mating. The discovery could lead to new approaches for controlling reproductive behaviors in agricultural pests and human disease carriers.
A team of neurobiologists has discovered a gene controlling fruit fly homosexuality and found it can be turned on and off within hours using genetic manipulation or drugs. The research provides insight into the biological basis of sexual orientation and may one day enable the domestication of insects like fruit flies for useful purposes.
Research suggests glucose powers self-control, which wanes when exercised. Replenishing blood sugar through sugary drinks can improve subsequent self-control efforts.
Researchers found that cocaine-addicted individuals have compromised sensitivity to monetary rewards, which may explain why they struggle to change their drug-taking behavior. The study suggests that this altered sensitivity to reward could be a key factor in the difficulty of modifying drug-taking behavior.
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.