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Genomic Press launches Brain Health, a new peer-reviewed journal of lifelong brain resilience, with inaugural interview featuring Luísa Pinto on glial plasticity

Genomic Press launches Brain Health, a new peer-reviewed journal dedicated to the science of lifelong brain resilience, featuring research on glial plasticity and recovery from depression. The inaugural issue explores the intersection of fields including cognitive reserve, sleep, aging biology, nutritional psychiatry, and social sciences.

SourceGenomic Press

Scientists engineer a tool to “edit” brain circuits and enhance memory

Researchers develop molecular tool called SynTrogo, which enables selective dismantling of synaptic connections in brain circuits. By harnessing astrocytes, the system reduces synapse number while strengthening remaining connections, leading to enhanced long-term potentiation and improved memory.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

A sea slug taught her how the brain works, and she never looked back

Dr. Phillips's laboratory identifies abnormalities in prefrontal-striatal-limbic circuitry as biomarkers for bipolar disorder before symptoms appear. Her team tracks neural network development from infancy through young adulthood.

SourceGenomic Press·JournalBrain Medicine·TypeNews article

Key to human intelligence lies in how brain networks work together

Researchers at the University of Notre Dame investigated how brain networks are organized and work together to form a unified system. They found evidence for system-wide coordination in the brain that is both robust and adaptable, suggesting that intelligence reflects how brain networks are coordinated and dynamically reconfigured.

SourceUniversity of Notre Dame·JournalNature Communications·TypeImaging analysis

How brain activity changes throughout the day

Researchers developed an experimental protocol to monitor brain activity in mouse models, finding that brain activity shifts from inner layers to cortex throughout the day. This discovery could lead to new methods for assessing fatigue and understanding mental health issues.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalPLOS Biology

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Scientists identify five ages of the human brain over a lifetime

Researchers identified five phases of brain structure, each supported by four turning points between birth and death, revealing key developments in cognitive performance, neural efficiency, and regional compartmentalization. The study provides context for understanding why brains develop differently at various stages of life.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalNature Communications

A ‘bird’s eye view’ of how human brains operate

Researchers used data from the Human Connectome Project to build computational models that linked connectivity with brain activation across various cognitive processes. The findings show a consistent correlation between connectivity and function, suggesting that specific patterns of connectivity can predict brain activity.

SourceOhio State University·JournalNetwork Neuroscience·TypeComputational simulation/modeling

Novel accurate approach improves understanding of brain structure in children with ADHD

Researchers developed a new method to correct for variations in brain imaging measurements, reducing bias and increasing the accuracy of studies on ADHD. The traveling-subject method demonstrated reduced measurement bias while maintaining sampling bias, revealing decreased brain volume in critical regions for cognitive functions.

SourceUniversity of Fukui·JournalMolecular Psychiatry·TypeImaging analysis

Evaluating music beyond sound: understanding visual influence across genres

A study found that evaluators' musical experience influences the sight-over-sound effect, reducing its impact for those with auditory expertise. The study used Japanese high school brass band competitions and found no significant evidence of the effect in musicians, but a stronger presence in non-musicians.

SourceKeio University Global Research Institute·JournalPLOS One·TypeObservational study

Why do some brain regions resist Alzheimer’s?

A new study reveals that Alzheimer's risk genes influence tau buildup and spread in distinct pathways, challenging traditional views of the disease. Four gene types were identified: Network-Aligned Vulnerability and Resilience, and Network-Independent Vulnerability and Resilience.

SourceUniversity of California San Francisco Medical Center·JournalBrain·TypeImaging analysis

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Piecing together the brain puzzle

A new microscopy method, LICONN, developed by ISTA scientists and Google Research, can reconstruct mammalian brain tissue with all synaptic connections between neurons. This technique uses standard light microscopes and hydrogel to achieve high resolution and opens up possibilities for visualizing complex molecular machinery.

SourceInstitute of Science and Technology Austria·JournalNature·TypeImaging analysis

Mapping of circadian clock-related neuron connections in Drosophila

Researchers have constructed a comprehensive map of synaptic connections between clock neurons in Drosophila, identifying novel neurons and connections that influence feeding, mating, and sleep behaviors. The study also reveals the role of light input pathways and neurotransmitters in regulating clock neuron function.

SourceOkayama University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study

Scientists reveal cilia’s secrets using connectome data

Researchers used super high-resolution 3D electron microscopy images to study primary cilia in mouse brain tissue, revealing new information about their organization and function. The findings provide insights into how cilia behave in their natural environment and could help scientists understand their role in disease.

SourceHoward Hughes Medical Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

NUS Medicine study: Brain connectome phenotype linked to cerebrovascular disease can track cognitive decline

Researchers discovered a brain functional connectome phenotype related to multiple cerebrovascular disease markers that contributes additively to cognitive decline and neurodegeneration alongside Alzheimer's disease. The study highlights the role of cerebrovascular disease in reshaping our understanding of dementia.

SourceNational University of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine·JournalAlzheimer s & Dementia·TypeExperimental study

New research finds how fighting female flies focus on their foes

Scientists have uncovered how aggression affects vision in female fruit flies, revealing three distinct mechanisms that regulate visual attention. This breakthrough provides insight into the link between sensory information and social behaviors, with potential implications for understanding and treating neuropsychiatric disorders.

SourceHoward Hughes Medical Institute·JournalNature

SFSU researchers’ unique 3D maps might help solve the mysteries of octopus arms

Researchers at SFSU have created three-dimensional molecular and anatomical maps of the inner neuronal circuitry of octopus arms. These 3D reconstructions revealed that cells at the tip of an arm are different from those at the base, allowing for new questions to be posed about how cells communicate with one another.

SourceSan Francisco State University·JournalCurrent Biology

HALT! Scientists decode brain mechanisms of stopping

Researchers discovered two distinct neural mechanisms, 'Walk-OFF' and 'Brake', that control halting behavior in flies. The 'Walk-OFF' mechanism inhibits forward walking by suppressing neurons driving movement, while the 'Brake' mechanism increases leg joint resistance to prevent stepping.

SourceMax Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study

Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Researchers fully map neural connections of the fruit fly brain

Researchers have created the largest and most complete map of the fruit fly brain, detailing over 50 million connections between neurons. The study provides critical information about brain wiring and underlying signals, paving the way for future studies on larger-brained animals.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Mental Health·JournalNature

Neuroscience breakthrough: A Princeton-led research team has mapped the entire brain of an adult fruit fly for the first time

A Princeton-led research team has built the first neuron-by-neuron and synapse-by-synapse roadmap through the brain of an adult fruit fly. The map reveals connections within the brain at every scale, enabling researchers to better understand its underlying logic and potentially develop tailored treatments for brain diseases.

SourcePrinceton University·JournalNature·TypeImaging analysis

Revealing the hidden brain: Dr. Marx and Professor Gilon challenge connectome projects and unveil new mechanisms of mentality

Researchers Dr. Marx and Prof. Gilon propose a novel tripartite mechanism of neural memory based on metal-centered complexes within the nECM/PNN, enabling the encoding of emotive states through biochemical interactions. This new understanding underscores the need for a more holistic approach to grasp brain function and mental processes.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalInternational Journal of Psychiatry Research·TypeLiterature review

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

From takeoff to flight, the wiring of a fly's nervous system is mapped

Researchers create detailed wiring diagram of motor circuits in fruit flies, revealing complex nerve coordination for leg and wing movements. The study advances understanding of how the central nervous system coordinates individual muscles for various behaviors.

SourceUniversity of Washington School of Medicine/UW Medicine·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study

Our cerebellar nuclei turn out to be more important than initially thought

Researchers discovered that cerebellar nuclei make a surprising contribution to associative learning by strengthening connections with mossy fibers. Optogenetic experiments also showed that the nuclei can support well-timed learning. The study's findings have implications for understanding cerebellum function and potential treatments f...

SourceChampalimaud Centre for the Unknown·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study

Unraveling the mysteries of the brain with the help of a worm

A team of neuroscientists and physicists at Princeton University studied the brain of Caenorhabditis elegans to understand how information flows through a network of interacting neurons. They used optogenetics to activate individual neurons and observe how other neurons responded, shedding light on the complex neural connections.

SourcePrinceton University·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.

Researchers plot a course for building a “digital twin” of the brain

The Digital Twin Brain platform combines intricate brain atlases and dynamic neural models to simulate human brain functions. This innovative approach holds promise for advancing artificial general intelligence and precision mental healthcare.

SourceIntelligent Computing·JournalIntelligent Computing

Distributed workload in the fly brain

Researchers found that fly brain uses a three-step computation to distinguish motion patterns, dividing the workload across multiple levels. This approach helps flies detect even slight changes in motion and stay on course.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Neuroscience·TypeExperimental study

Brain imaging-based biomarker of depression identified

Researchers used brain imaging to identify multiple subtypes of depression, finding distinct deviation patterns in functional connectivity among brain regions. This study provides leads for developing better treatments and personalized therapeutic interventions.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry·TypeObservational study

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

Understanding the speed of brain communication

A study by Mayo Clinic researchers found that brain transmission speeds continue to increase into early adulthood, reaching a plateau around age 30-40. This may help clinicians offer therapies to treat disorders such as anxiety and depression that emerge during late adolescence and early adulthood.

SourceMayo Clinic·JournalNature Neuroscience

First wiring map of neurons in insect brain complete

Researchers have built the first ever map showing every single neuron and how they're wired together in the fruit fly larva's brain. This huge step forwards in science will help us understand basic principles of signal travel through the brain, leading to behavior and learning.

SourceUK Research and Innovation·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study

Scientists complete 1st map of an insect brain

Researchers have completed the most advanced brain map to date, tracing every neural connection in the brain of a larval fruit fly. The team's achievement is expected to underpin future brain research and inspire new machine learning architectures.

SourceJohns Hopkins University·JournalScience

Janelia releases 74,000 fruit fly brain images

The Janelia FlyLight Project Team has released over 74,000 images of fruit fly brain neurons, generated from more than 5,000 different genetically modified fly strains. These images are now freely available for scientists to quickly and easily find the neurons they need to test theories about the nervous system.

SourceHoward Hughes Medical Institute·JournaleLife

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

A new field of neuroscience aims to map connections in the brain

Researchers aim to create comprehensive maps of how neurons connect to each other, exploring neural circuits that underlie behavior. By studying connectivity and neural activity, scientists hope to understand the structure of the brain and its role in our sense of self.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalNature

Novel analysis shows the experience of reward increases connectivity between the default mode network and other brain regions

Researchers found that experiencing reward enhances connectivity between the default mode network (DMN) and the ventral striatum. This effect was specific to the DMN and correlated with personality characteristics related to openness. The study used data from the Human Connectome Project, a database of healthy participants.

SourceKessler Foundation·JournalNeuroImage·TypeData/statistical analysis

Why heat makes us sleepy

Researchers at Northwestern University found that a thermometer-like brain circuit promotes midday siestas on hot days. The study, which used fruit flies as a model organism, identified absolute heat receptors in fly heads, leading to increased midday sleep in flies and potentially humans.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalCurrent Biology

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

Changes in brain infrastructure are inherited, impact cognitive function

Researchers at the University of Illinois found that certain characteristics of the brain's connectome can be inherited from one generation to the next. This may contribute to differences in cognitive abilities between individuals.

SourceBeckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology·JournalNeuroImage·TypeData/statistical analysis

The dark matter of the brain

Electrical synapses play a vital role in brain function and stability, influencing individual nerve cell activity. In Drosophila, researchers found electrical synapses occur in almost all brain areas, affecting visual processing and neuron stability.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalCurrent Biology

Distant regions of the human brain are wired together by surprisingly few connections

A study published in PLOS Biology found that despite the functional importance of connections between far-reaching brain regions, the actual number of these connections is low. Researchers estimated 2.5 billion long-range axons in the cerebral cortex, but found that only a small percentage directly connected key functional areas.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeObservational study

Risk, resiliency in aging brain focus of $33 million grant

A large-scale study aims to understand how individual brains change over time, identifying factors that increase cognitive decline risk and those that confer resilience. The Adult Aging Brain Connectome study will follow 1,000 participants across a decade, collecting brain scans, blood samples, and demographic data.

SourceWashU Medicine

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

USC Institute launches worldwide study of Parkinson’s disease

The USC Institute is launching a $3 million global consortium study to analyze brain imaging, genetics, and clinical data from 20 countries. The study aims to understand how Parkinson's disease progresses in the brain and explore genetic factors contributing to risk.

SourceKeck School of Medicine of USC

Altered Functional Brain Network Connectivity Associated with Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress in COVID-19 Survivors, Study Shows

A recent study found COVID-19 survivors exhibit abnormal patterns of brain connectivity associated with increased post-traumatic stress symptoms. The research team discovered three distinct states of functional connectivity in the brains of COVID-19 survivors, which are linked to symptom severity.

SourceGeorgia State University·JournalNeurobiology of Stress·TypeData/statistical analysis

Brain connectivity can build better AI

A new study demonstrates that artificial intelligence networks based on human brain connectivity can perform cognitive tasks efficiently. Researchers created a brain connectivity pattern and applied it to an artificial neural network, which performed cognitive memory tasks more flexibly and efficiently than other benchmark architectures.

SourceMcGill University·JournalNature·TypeData/statistical analysis

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

Machine-learning improves the prediction of stroke recovery

Researchers developed a predictive tool using machine learning and connectome analysis to identify neuronal network patterns and predict individual recovery outcomes. The study analyzed 92 patients' brain structural connectomes, tracking changes in connection patterns during recovery.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalBrain

Machine intelligence accelerates research into mapping brains

Researchers in Japan have used machine intelligence to fine-tune algorithms for brain mapping by MRI, improving the accuracy and reliability of connectome estimation. The new technique generates more convincing results, particularly in detecting long-range nerve fibers, crucial for understanding brain function.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalScientific Reports

How networks form: Charting the developing brain

Researchers used connectomic mapping to study inhibitory neuronal circuitry in developing mice brains. They found that different types of interneurons followed distinct developmental time courses to establish synaptic partners.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalScience

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

New multiscale view of the human brain

Researchers developed a geometric network model to study the multiscale organization of the brain, finding that layers at different resolutions exhibit self-similar structure and efficient decentralized communication. This discovery has implications for understanding brain functioning and may lead to advanced tools for brain simulation.

SourceUniversity of Barcelona·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Humans are born with brains 'prewired' to see words

Researchers found connections between newborn brain's visual word form area and language network, suggesting an innate sensitivity to visual words. The study suggests that the pre-reading VWFA is more connected functionally to the language network than other areas.

SourceOhio State University·JournalScientific Reports

New approach simultaneously measures EEG and fMRI connectomes

Researchers have developed a new method to measure the complex interactions between different brain areas using both electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). This approach reveals linked dynamics between EEG- and fMRI-derived connectomes, providing insights into neural communication. The findings s...

SourceBeckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology·JournalNeuroImage

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.

Artificial intelligence boosts MRI detection of ADHD

A study published in Radiology: Artificial Intelligence found that deep learning can improve MRI detection of ADHD by using a multi-scale approach to construct the brain connectome. This method provided significantly better performance than single-scale approaches, highlighting the predictive power of the brain connectome.

SourceRadiological Society of North America