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Nixing narcolepsy nightmares

A new therapeutic approach combining cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and lucid dreaming has shown promise in reducing nightmare severity and frequency in patients with narcolepsy. The study, published in the Journal of Sleep Research, found overall reductions in nightmare symptoms in all six participants tested.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalJournal of Sleep Research·DateOct 23, 2024

When dogs and humans find a common language

Researchers found that dogs slow down their speech rate when addressed by humans, while humans' speech rhythms meet in the middle. Dogs process human language only within the delta band (1-3 Hz) and with phonological content, debunking myths about prosody sensitivity.

SourceInstitut Pasteur·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 4, 2024

Recording the cats in the hats

Veterinary scientists at Université de Montréal have created a way to scan the brains of cats while they're awake by concealing electrodes in crocheted wool caps. This new technique uses electroencephalograms (EEGs) and can help alleviate chronic pain in cats.

SourceUniversity of Montreal·TypeObservational study·DateSep 26, 2024

Cutting-edge algorithm improves intracranial EEG accuracy to improve future patient care

A new algorithm has been developed to improve the accuracy of intracranial EEG data, which is critical for diagnosing and treating epilepsy. The Automated Bad Channel Detection (ABCD) algorithm demonstrated higher accuracy than human raters, particularly in identifying channels with high-frequency noise.

SourceUniversity of Minnesota Medical School·JournalJournal of Neural Engineering·TypeObservational study·DateAug 27, 2024

Heart data unlocks sleep secrets

Researchers at USC developed an approach that matches polysomnography using a single-lead echocardiogram, allowing anyone to create their own low-cost, DIY sleep-tracking device. The software significantly outperformed other EEG-less models and assesses sleep stages at the highest level.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalComputers in Biology and Medicine·DateAug 19, 2024

Bantu language shows that processing of focused information may be universal

Researchers have found that speakers of Makhuwa, a Bantu language, process focused information in the same way as speakers of other languages. The study used EEG to measure brain activity when participants heard sentences with focused or non-focused words. The results show that focused information generated a more negative N400 respons...

SourceMax Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 19, 2024

USC researchers pioneer new brain imaging technique through clear “window” in patient’s skull

In a proof-of-concept study, USC researchers used functional ultrasound imaging to collect high-resolution brain imaging data through a transparent skull implant in a patient. The results suggest that this approach could open new avenues for patient monitoring and clinical research.

SourceKeck School of Medicine of USC·JournalScience Translational Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 29, 2024

Human ‘neural compass’ pinpointed in new study

Researchers have pinpointed the location of an internal neural compass in the human brain, which helps orientate itself in space and navigate through the environment. This discovery has implications for understanding diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, where navigation and orientation are often impaired.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalNature Human Behaviour·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 6, 2024

Espresso yourself: Wearable tech measures emotional responses to coffee

Researchers have demonstrated the feasibility of using wearable technology to measure the emotional responses of coffee experts during tastings. The study found significant correlations between biomedical signals and data from conventional questionnaires, confirming the viability of this approach for enhancing coffee quality assessment.

SourceSociety of Chemical Industry·JournalJournal of the Science of Food and Agriculture·DateMar 6, 2024

Live music emotionally moves us more than streamed music

A recent study conducted at the University of Zurich found that live performances stimulate a stronger emotional response in the brain compared to listening to recorded music. The researchers used magnetic resonance imaging to measure brain activity during both live and recorded music sessions, revealing a significant difference in amy...

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 26, 2024

CityU neuroscientists uncover the therapeutic potential of low-dose ionizing radiation for traumatic brain injury and ischemic stroke

Researchers found that low-dose X-ray irradiation reduced lesion size and reversed motor deficits in TBI and ischemic stroke mice, demonstrating its potential as a therapeutic strategy. The treatment also accelerated substantial motor function recovery and promoted brain rewiring after stroke.

SourceCity University of Hong Kong·JournalBrain Behavior and Immunity·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 26, 2024

Transforming clinical recording of deep brain activity with a new take on sensor manufacturing

A new approach to sensor manufacturing allows for minimally-invasive, high-resolution recording of deep brain activity, enabling the analysis of specific brain signals. The technology has the potential to enhance physicians' ability to acquire and understand brain signals at a higher resolution.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 17, 2024

Evidence early, but emerging, that gamma rhythm stimulation can treat neurological disorders

A growing number of studies have found that non-invasive sensory, electrical, or magnetic stimulation of gamma brain rhythms can reduce Alzheimer's pathology and its consequences. These studies have shown increases in gamma power, brain network connectivity, and improvements in memory, cognition, and sleep.

SourcePicower Institute at MIT·JournalJournal of Internal Medicine·TypeLiterature review·DateDec 20, 2023

Brain waves usually found in sleep can protect against epileptic activity

Researchers at University College London have discovered that slow waves typically present during sleep can also occur during wakefulness in people with epilepsy, potentially protecting against increased brain excitability. These 'wake' slow waves decrease the impact of epileptic spikes on brain activity and may protect against seizures.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 30, 2023

Brain implant may enable communication from thoughts alone

A new speech prosthetic developed by Duke neuroscientists and engineers can translate brain signals into spoken words, improving communication for people with neurological disorders. The device achieved an accuracy rate of 40% in predicting intended speech from 90 seconds of brain activity.

SourceDuke University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 6, 2023

Sleep and stress give clues to understanding epileptic seizures - study

A recent study discovered two subgroups of people with idiopathic generalized epilepsy, one experiencing highest incidence during sleep and the other during daytime. The researchers found that either dynamics of cortisol or sleep stage transition explained most of the observed distributions of epileptiform discharges.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 17, 2023

New study sheds light on the impact of in-stream video advertising on ad information encoding

A recent study published in Journal of Advertising sheds light on the effects of in-stream video advertising on ad information encoding. The research found that mid-roll ads elicit negative emotions but do not affect viewers' purchase intention. In contrast, pre- and post-roll ads have a significant impact on memory formation, highligh...

Posttraumatic brain activity predicts resilience to PTSD

A study published in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging found that greater activation in the right inferior frontal gyrus predicts better recovery from early PTSD symptoms. This breakthrough suggests a potential role for cortical/cognitive regions in regulating fear and PTSD development.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging·TypeImaging analysis·DateSep 21, 2023

Researchers predict film scores by the activity of facial muscles

A study published in Frontiers in Neuroscience found that the activity of zygomaticus major, heart rate variability, and EEG indicators can predict film scores. The researchers used a machine learning model to analyze physiological data from 21 participants who watched short films and rated them on a scale from 1 to 10.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalFrontiers in Neuroscience·DateAug 31, 2023

Pioneering study finds that brain tumours 'hack' the communication between neurons

A pioneering study published in Cancer Cell finds that brain metastasis alters the brain's chemistry and disrupts neuronal communication. Researchers discovered a molecule, EGR1, that may play a role in this process, paving the way for potential drug development to alleviate neurocognitive effects.

SourceCentro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO)·JournalCancer Cell·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 30, 2023

Brain recordings capture musicality of speech — with help from Pink Floyd

Neuroscientists at UC Berkeley have successfully reconstructed a recognizable song from brain recordings, capturing the electrical activity of brain regions tuned to music attributes. This breakthrough could enable future brain implants with prosodic content, improving communication for patients with speech disorders.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 15, 2023

HSE researchers question the correctness of experiments denying free will

Researchers from HSE University challenged the famous Libet studies on free will, revealing a lack of correlation between brain activity and decision-making. The study used advanced EEG techniques to investigate the timing of intention awareness and final decision, finding that the latter could be influenced by experimental procedures.

Study finds tracking brain waves could reduce post-op complications

A new MIT study reveals that analyzing brain wave patterns can help doctors determine when patients are at risk of entering a deeper state of unconsciousness during surgery. By tracking these patterns, anesthesiologists may be able to prevent postoperative cognitive impairments and reduce the risk of complications.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 17, 2023