Articles tagged with Behavioral Neuroscience
A new study by a global team of researchers has revealed subtle alterations in the size of the brain's prefrontal region in young people with mood disorders and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The study suggests that these associations may be absent or more difficult to identify in more diverse samples.
A study found that increased prism adaptation treatment sessions improve spatial neglect symptoms, while more frequent sessions lead to greater rehabilitation gains. The authors recommend starting PAT early for optimal dosing.
Researchers discovered a gene called nervy that helps fruit flies respond to socio-environmental signals to stop fighting. The study's findings have implications for understanding aggression in humans and potentially treating psychiatric disorders like Parkinson's disease.
A new study reveals how the C. elegans worm integrates environmental cues and internal states to guide food-seeking behavior, highlighting a potentially universal mechanism for nervous system integration. The research team found that internal states, such as hunger, can influence the expression of key smell receptors in sensory neurons.
Researchers at George Washington University found that people perceive objects differently based on their prior knowledge and experience, with manipulable objects perceived faster but with less detail, while non-manipulable objects are perceived slower but with higher detail.
Researchers discovered an inhibitory neuronal network in the brainstem that generates a synchronous rhythm, retracting mouse whiskers from their protracted positions. The oscillator consists of parvalbumin-expressing vIRt neurons firing bursts only during whisker retraction.
A study from MIT neuroscientists has identified a population of neurons in the visual cortex that respond to images of food. The researchers found four previously known populations and a fifth, more surprising population that appears to be selective for food images. This finding may reflect the special importance of food in human culture.
Research identified distinct brain connections in individuals with misophonia, revealing that it may not be solely linked to oral sensory processing. The study found stronger connections between regions associated with finger movement and sensation, as well as the insula area linked to strong emotions like disgust.
Research shows that exposure to commonly used insecticides can profoundly impair honeybees' visually guided behavior, crucial for flight and survival. The study found that pesticide-exposed bees have impaired optomotor responses, with increased asymmetry in left and right turns.
A new study by neuroscientists at MIT's Picower Institute finds that the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and motor cortex collaborate to update understanding and behavior when a task requires more steps. The ACC helps M2 adjust to new rules, but reduced activity leads to increased negative outcome encoding cells' activity in M2.
Researchers will design and distribute two new types of miniscopes, enabling deeper brain observations. The devices will be light enough for rodents, unlocking insights into neurological disorders like Alzheimer's disease.
Ben-Gurion University researchers Dr. Moti Salti and Dr. Dafna Bergerbest propose a framework to objectively compare subjective experiences and reveal their neuronal basis. They focus on numerosity as a field where objective criteria can be established, aiming to map individual transfer-functions at both behavioral and neuronal levels.
A large-scale study led by the University of Leicester found that people with a strong sense of fairness cheat less, regardless of winning or losing. The researchers examined the behavior of over 500 participants in lab-based games and discovered that only those with low 'inequality aversion' were more likely to cheat.
A study published in NeuroReport reveals that ultrasound exposure improves depressive behavior in a rat model of depression. OB rats exposed to USV had significantly lower hyperemotionality scores and plasma corticosterone levels than unexposed rats, suggesting potential anti-depressant effects.
Researchers found that the brain's cortex uses principles of calculus to implement a 'stop' signal, allowing for quick and precise decision-making in goal-directed behaviors. The study reveals how the brain integrates learned rules with sensory information to guide actions.
Researchers discovered that communication between two brain regions, parietal cortex and premotor cortex, is co-dependent on instantaneous timescales to represent and maintain working memory. This finding challenges previous understanding of working memory representation in the brain.
Researchers found that a higher voice pitch leads to faces being assessed as half a year younger on average. However, the face itself provides crucial information for evaluating attractiveness, femininity, and health, making the voice less influential in these evaluations.
A new study finds that racial discrimination affects brain microstructure, increasing the risk for health disorders in Black women. Traumatic experiences lead to changes in brain white matter tracts, which may enhance risk for negative health outcomes.
Researchers found that children with autism process brain waves differently when focused on body movements versus colors, highlighting a key challenge in communication.
Researchers at City University of Hong Kong have identified the key mechanism behind roundworms' precise bowel movements, revealing a synchronized nerve impulse between the brain and gut. The study found that the AVL nerve cell in the head regulates the defecation rhythm by relaying and modulating pacemaker signals from the gut.
A recent study published in Nature has identified a complex neural network in the fruit-fly brain that shapes behavior and decision-making, particularly when it comes to food choice. The 'appetite map' created by the researchers reveals how internal states, such as nutrient deficiencies and pregnancy, interact to guide behavior.
A new theory suggests that lack of perceived safety in marginalized communities can have a direct impact on physical and mental health. This concept challenges decades-old thinking that minority stress is the primary cause of health disparities in the LGBTQ community.
Researchers uncover brain area responsible for driving action and suppressing drive in a novel task designed to study active action suppression. The team identified the dorsomedial striatum as the key region promoting action, while the indirect pathway suppresses it, leading to an 'impulsivity switch'.
Researchers discovered that hippocampal place cells represent direction and distance to a goal in addition to current location. A vector field provides signal towards the goal, aiding flexible navigation.
Researchers argue that neurons proactively trigger influx of needed substances to survive, creating a systemwide group of metabolically cooperating cells. This principle is central to learning, driving human behavior. The study aims to explore tumour cell responses to individual behaviors and develop new cancer treatments.
Research reveals that brain responses to stories change dramatically between childhood and adulthood, with different brain regions activated in each age group. Children as young as seven show similar patterns of brain activity to adults when watching a story, but their brains are less synchronized and more focused on sensory details.
Researchers discovered that blocking certain acetylcholine receptors in the lateral habenula balances reward and aversion, making it harder to resist seeking cocaine. This finding identifies a new role for these receptors as a potential target for treating cocaine use disorder.
Researchers propose a new framework for understanding how our prefrontal cortex makes decisions, highlighting the role of ventromedial prefrontal cortex in assigning value to options and medial prefrontal cortex in confidence and deliberation. The study's findings can be generalized to other types of behavior, such as judgments.
Researchers elucidated the molecular mechanisms of acetylcholine in learning and memory, revealing a signaling cascade involving protein kinase C. The study opens doors to new therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer's disease.
A study from Japan's University of Tokyo reveals that users can form a strong sense of ownership with virtual robotic arms, expanding their perceived personal space. The research aims to inform the design of real-life supernumerary robotic limb systems that people can use naturally.
Scientists identify PiT2-loop7 missense mutations causing inorganic phosphate dyshomeostasis, leading to primary familial brain calcification. The study reveals how these mutations affect PiT2 phosphorylation and membrane localization, reducing Pi transport activity.
Researchers found that walking enhances performance on cognitive tasks in 14 participants by increasing frontal brain function, while 12 others showed no improvement. This discovery highlights the flexibility of a healthy brain and has implications for understanding aging and neurological disorders.
A new study by an international group of researchers has found substantial reductions in grey matter in people with anorexia nervosa, a condition characterized by severe food restriction and low body weight. Early intervention and treatment can help the brain repair itself, according to the research team led by Dr. Paul M. Thompson.
Researchers analyzed data from 599 patients with premenstrual dysphoric disorder and found that 34% have attempted suicide, with high rates of suicidal ideation, planning, and self-injury among women. The study highlights the need for accurate diagnosis and screening of suicidal ideation in patients with PMDD.
Women with self-injury behaviour show a more effective pain-modulation system, displaying more connections between pain perception and modulation brain areas. This finding suggests that effective pain modulation is a risk factor for self-injury behaviour, providing valuable insights for improving treatment and support.
Researchers at the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre discovered that brain area communication is dynamic and changes over rapid timespans, with influences varying on a fast timescale. This finding suggests that cortical areas may control different aspects of processing in downstream regions over very short time spans.
A new study reveals that drumming can improve the life quality of young people diagnosed with autism by enhancing brain function and behavior. Participants showed fewer signs of hyperactivity, inattention, and repetitive behaviors, demonstrating better control of their emotions.
A new study published in Nature reveals that a small population of neurons near the base of the brain can induce symptoms of sickness, including fever, appetite loss, and warm seeking behavior. The researchers found these neurons have receptors capable of directly detecting molecular signals from the immune system.
Researchers discovered two novel categories of cells in the BLA that respond to ethological stimuli, including event-specific neurons responding to one type of stimulus and panresponsive neurons responding equally well to multiple stimuli. These findings suggest a larger role for the BLA in memory and behavior.
Research found that stimulating a specific brain circuit relieves pain and reduces defensive behaviors in rats, indicating potential physical and psychological relief. The pathway also increases reward and feeding behavior, suggesting improved emotional state.
A new study reveals that combinations of multiple genetic factors determine the risk and severity of symptoms in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Researchers analyzed 37,375 individuals from 11,213 families to understand how rare mutations and common genetic variation contribute to ASD.
Neuroscientists demonstrate that mice can learn to suppress their innate escape response, effectively ignoring stimuli deemed non-threatening. The study's findings show that this suppression is specific to the stimulus and dependent on recent threat-escape history.
Kessler Foundation researchers use signal detection theory to characterize cognitive fatigue in multiple sclerosis. The study reveals an association between subjective 'state' fatigue, response bias, and brain activation patterns in both MS and control groups. This finding supports the use of signal detection metrics as an objective me...
A recent study out of the Complexity Science Hub Vienna developed a mathematical and computational framework for analysing neural activity in C. elegans, a tiny worm used to study neural activity. The study proposes a way to unmask the roles of neurons by using more natural perturbations.
Researchers at Sainsbury Wellcome Centre found that mice can choose the best escape route after only 10 minutes of exploration, without needing to experience threat. The study suggests that mice use innate heuristics and natural exploration to learn this information.
Researchers at West Virginia University are studying the mechanisms behind Alzheimer's disease and PTSD, using animal models to investigate how stressful events affect brain cells. They aim to understand the role of estrogen and high-cholesterol diet in developing the disease.
A study in a mouse model found that viral infections during pregnancy can affect the mother's brain and disrupt maternal care behavior after birth. The research team identified structural, molecular, and functional changes in the brains of mothers with viral-like immune activation.
Researchers at EPFL's School of Life Sciences create a digital twin of Drosophila called NeuroMechFly, which uses biomechanical modeling and machine learning to simulate the fly's movements. The model is validated through experiments that demonstrate its accuracy in replicating real animal behaviors.
Researchers found that children with a history of maltreatment exhibited an early maturation of the immune system, similar to adolescents. This study suggests that secretory immunoglobulin A could be a biomarker for acute stress in young populations.
Researchers used worms to study how hunger signals in the gut communicate with the brain, leading to riskier behavior. The findings suggest that proteins in intestinal cells move dynamically to transmit signals about hunger, driving worms to cross toxic barriers.
Researchers found that fruit bats use echolocation during the day despite having excellent vision, suggesting a combination of both senses for enhanced navigation. This study highlights the importance of integrating different senses, like humans using visual and auditory information when crossing streets.
The University of Texas at El Paso has received a $5M NIH grant to build an imaging and behavioral neuroscience facility focused on addressing Hispanic health disparities. The new facility will enable researchers to study the mechanisms contributing to cancer and neurological disorders in Hispanic populations.
Research using Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study data found that urban environments with socioeconomic challenges increase psychotic-like experiences in pre-adolescent children. Early prevention is crucial as these exposures are already present in late childhood.
Researchers at Tokyo University of Science identify brain regions and signaling pathways involved in fear extinction via delta receptor activation. The study suggests a potential therapeutic agent for post-traumatic stress disorders by suppressing fearful memories.
A new study found that the release of oxytocin is linked to increased kindness and life satisfaction, with participants showing more generous behavior and empathy as they aged. The findings support religious philosophies on the importance of helping others in enhancing life satisfaction.
Researchers are studying moths to understand agile decision-making in complex environments, aiming to develop autonomous bio-inspired systems. Meanwhile, a team is exploring origami- and kirigami-inspired flexible structures for multifunctional applications.
A recent study by NYU researchers reveals that our eyes stay focused on what we reach for due to a complex neurological process called gaze anchoring. By inhibiting eye movements, neurons in the brain enhance accuracy when grasping objects.
A study published in Current Biology found that consuming non-essential amino acids can curb appetite and encourage physical activity in mice. This mechanism is thought to be rooted in evolutionary history, where eating these amino acids promoted the urge to seek out more nutrient-rich food sources.
Researchers found a clear link between elevated amyloid beta levels and the development of anxiety and apathy in Alzheimer's patients. These symptoms occur mainly due to underlying brain changes, not psychological reactions. The study suggests that psychiatric symptoms could be used as alternative outcome measures in treatment trials.
A study by Tokyo University of Science researchers has demonstrated that a computationally-light model can simulate complex brain cell responses, including periodic and quasi-periodic responses. The Izhikevich neuron model was found to be capable of reproducing both types of responses at lower computational cost.