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Modeling the restless brain

Indiana University neuroscientists Olaf Sporns and Christopher Honey found that the brain's spontaneous activity is shaped by its wiring diagram. Their computational model of a macaque monkey's brain shows how fluctuations in activity emerge from chaotic neural interactions, revealing rich temporal structure at multiple time scales.

SourceIndiana University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 4, 2007

How the brain's backup system compensates for stroke

Researchers have identified how the brain's dorsal premotor cortex (PMd) compensates for disruption caused by a stroke. The study found that the PMd in the intact hemisphere increases activity to 'rescue' function in the damaged hemisphere, leading to recovery of movement.

SourceCell Press·JournalNeuron·DateMay 2, 2007

Revealing secret intentions in the brain

Scientists have developed a new method to read brain activity patterns associated with specific thoughts, enabling the decoding of secret intentions. The technique, called multivariate pattern recognition, combines brain imaging data with sophisticated computer algorithms to predict subjects' decisions.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalCurrent Biology·DateFeb 8, 2007

How your brain helps you become a wine expert

A new study by Northwestern University researchers shows that the brain learns to differentiate between similar smells simply through passive experience. Prolonged sensory exposure induces 'expertise' in specific smell categories, leading to improved odor discrimination and retention of this expertise for at least 24 hours.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNeuron·DateDec 21, 2006

Hormone replacement therapy may improve trip down memory lane

A new study from the University of Michigan Health System suggests that hormone therapy may help retain certain memory functions in postmenopausal women. The research found increased brain activity in the prefrontal cortex of participants taking combined estrogen-progestin hormone therapy, compared to those on placebo.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism·DateNov 16, 2006

Food or its expectation sparks brain's hunger centers

Researchers discovered that food anticipation activates key hunger centers in the brain, while satiety circuits respond to the first bites of food. The study sheds light on the intricate processes governing appetite regulation and suggests a potential link between hormones like leptin and brain activity.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Metabolism·DateOct 3, 2006

Erotic images elicit strong response from brain

Researchers found that women's brains responded with stronger electrical activity when viewing erotic images than non-erotic content, regardless of its pleasantness or disturbance level. The study suggests that the brain processes erotic material differently, potentially due to evolutionary factors.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalBrain Research·DateJun 13, 2006

Aha! Favors the prepared mind

A new study reveals that mental preparation involving inward focus of attention promotes insight even prior to the presentation of a problem. Brain activity patterns before problem solving, as measured by EEG and fMRI, differ between those who solve problems with insight and methodically.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateApr 5, 2006

You will remember this

Researchers at University College London discovered that brain activity before an event is linked to memory recall. The study used EEG scans to show that preparing the brain for a task can enhance long-term memory, and that this preparation can be done by being 'in the right frame of mind' and staying alert between cues.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateFeb 26, 2006

Loud music worsens effects of taking ecstasy

Researchers found that low-dose MDMA had no effect on brain activity when no music was played. However, loud music increased the negative impact of low-dose MDMA and high-dose MDMA on brain activity. Brain activity returned to normal in rats not exposed to music after a day.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalBMC Neuroscience·DateFeb 15, 2006

Older brains 'rise to the challenge'

Researchers found that older adults increase activation in control-related brain regions and additional frontal brain areas when faced with difficult tasks. In contrast, young adults tend to deactivate certain brain regions. These findings suggest that older adults can adapt to challenging situations, although their brains may respond ...

Blink, and the brain misses it

Researchers used a novel method to monitor brain activity during blinking, finding that brain areas responsible for visual input are temporarily suppressed. This neural mechanism may help prevent the brain from becoming aware of the eyelid sweeping down over the pupil during a blink.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJul 25, 2005

Brain activity of men and women during hostile or impulsive acts differs less on nicotine

A recent study found that nicotine can eliminate the differences in brain activity between men and women during hostile or impulsive acts. Brain imaging research conducted by UCI showed that when participants were given nicotine, the brain-metabolism activity was virtually identical for both sexes.

SourceUniversity of California - Irvine·JournalThe International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology·DateFeb 17, 2005

Evidence that learning is consolidated during sleep

Researchers discovered that brain activity in the hippocampus, a key learning center, correlates with improved memory performance after sleep. Spatial memories were found to be strengthened during slow wave sleep, suggesting that sleep plays a crucial role in consolidating recent memory traces.

SourceCell Press·JournalNeuron·DateOct 27, 2004

We weren't made to multitask

Recent research from MIT found that brain activity does not increase when switching between tasks quickly, indicating that there are no complicated mechanisms for multitasking. Instead, individuals must complete one task before moving on to the next, a finding with implications for our understanding of cognitive processes.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateJun 7, 2004

Vision's touchy-feely side

Researchers discovered that tactile input affects how we perceive rotating objects, suggesting a link between touch and object motion perception. Brain activity studies revealed increased activity in regions processing visual motion when subjects experienced both touch and sight simultaneously.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateJun 7, 2004

Exercise sharpens focus, decision-making among aging adults

A six-month aerobic exercise program improved cognitive performance on a decision-making task in older adults by reducing behavioral conflict. The study used functional magnetic resonance imaging to measure changes in brain activity in middle-frontal and superior parietal regions, which were associated with improved performance.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 16, 2004

Study shows brain activity influences immune function

A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that individuals with greater activity in the left side of the prefrontal cortex had a stronger immune response against disease. The researchers measured brain activity and immune function in 52 individuals between 57-60 years old, and found a positive corre...

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 1, 2003

Rethinking how the brain sees visual features

Duke University researchers found that individual clusters in the visual cortex do not specialize in recognizing specific combinations of stimulus features. Instead, they respond to a broad range of stimulus combinations predicted by spatial and temporal properties of the visual stimulus.

SourceDuke University·JournalNature·DateJul 15, 2003

Mood linked to cognitive abilities

Researchers found that watching classic horror films improved reasoning and intelligence, while anxious moods hindered performance on difficult tasks. The prefrontal cortex region was jointly influenced by mood state and cognitive task, suggesting a regulatory role in integrating emotional signals with cognition.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 18, 2002