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Missed connections

Researchers found that brain connections change with age, but compensate for this by using new strategies to remember things. The study used fMRI data to analyze brain activity in individuals, revealing distinct patterns of connectivity among older people.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateNov 28, 2016

Plant compounds may boost brain function in older adults, study says

A recent study from the University of Georgia found that individuals with higher levels of lutein and zeaxanthin in their diets had better cognitive performance, as measured by fMRI technology. The researchers suggest that these compounds may help buffer age-related brain decline and improve neurocognitive function.

SourceUniversity of Georgia·JournalJournal of the International Neuropsychological Society·DateNov 21, 2016

Can a brain-computer interface convert your thoughts to text?

A recent study published in Frontiers presents a brain-to-text system that decodes speech from brain signals with high accuracy. The technology uses electrocorticography and language models to match patterns of neural signals to spoken words, offering potential benefits for individuals with speech disorders or locked-in patients.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Neuroscience·DateOct 25, 2016
Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.

Conclusions on brain-machine interfaces for communication and rehabilitation

The paper explores various techniques for brain-machine control, including EEGs and near infrared spectroscopy, to facilitate communication and rehabilitation in paralysed patients. Brain-machine assistive interfaces enable patients to communicate or control external devices such as prostheses.

SourceElhuyar Fundazioa·JournalNature Reviews Neurology·DateOct 4, 2016

Infants use prefrontal cortex in learning

Researchers found that infants as young as 8 months use the same circuits as adults when learning simple hierarchical rules. Their brains are properly adapted to handle essential elements in their world, suggesting a more mature prefrontal cortex than previously thought.

SourceBrown University·DateOct 4, 2016

Meditation keeps emotional brain in check

A new study from Michigan State University suggests that meditation can help tame negative emotions in people of all mindfulness levels. Participants who meditated showed similar levels of 'emotion regulatory' brain activity as those with high natural mindfulness, indicating improved emotional health.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalFrontiers in Neuroscience·DateOct 3, 2016
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Amputees' brains remember missing hands even years later

Research at Oxford University reveals that amputees' brains maintain an accurate picture of their missing hands decades after amputation. This finding has significant implications for the control of advanced prosthetics, as it suggests that the brain's representation of the hand remains intact despite the loss of sensory input.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·DateAug 30, 2016

This is your brain on sentences

The study used fMRI to measure human brain activation and found that it can predict brain activity patterns within 70% accuracy. The researchers developed a novel approach to map semantic characteristics of words and correlated them with neural activity patterns.

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalCerebral Cortex·DateAug 13, 2016

Paraplegics regain some feeling, movement after using brain-machine interfaces

Eight people with spinal cord injuries regained partial sensation and muscle control in their lower limbs after training with brain-controlled robotics. The research, led by Miguel Nicolelis, offers promise for regaining strength, mobility, and independence for those with spinal cord injury, stroke, and other conditions.

SourceDuke University Medical Center·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 11, 2016
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.

Fast fluency: Can we identify quick language learners?

A study by Dr. Chantel Prat and colleagues found that a five-minute measurement of resting-state brain activity can predict how quickly adults pick up a second language. Participants with larger 'beta' networks in their brains learned French twice as quickly, suggesting a link between brain activity and language learning speed.

SourceOffice of Naval Research·JournalBrain and Language·DateJun 30, 2016

Researchers look into the brains of music fans

A study by the University of Bonn reveals that when participants were given the freedom to set prices themselves, their brains showed increased activation in the lingual gyrus, an area associated with social stimuli. This suggests that social considerations, such as fairness, played a significant role in their decision-making process.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·DateJun 27, 2016

How older people learn

Researchers found that learning and training improve perception in older adults, despite degraded tactile perception. Computer simulations revealed that the brain's compensatory mechanism is strengthened, resulting in enhanced brain activity and improved perception.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalScientific Reports·DateJun 16, 2016
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

Our brain activity could be nudged to make healthier choices

Researchers tracked macaque monkeys' neural activity as they weighed options for juice rewards, predicting their choices based on brain patterns. The study sheds light on internal decision-making processes and could lead to implants to treat addiction, anxiety, and depression.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateJun 8, 2016

New technique captures the activity of an entire brain in a snapshot

Researchers at Rockefeller University have developed a new technique that captures the activity of an entire mouse brain in a single snapshot. This comprehensive view allows for robust and unbiased comparisons between active neuronal populations, enabling hypothesis generation about brain function.

SourceRockefeller University·JournalCell·DateMay 26, 2016

Meaning of brain scans for 'pain' called into question

Researchers found that people with no sense of pain exhibited the same brain activity patterns as healthy individuals when exposed to painful stimuli, casting doubt on the 'pain matrix'. The study highlights the need for caution when interpreting associations between brain activity and human experiences.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalJAMA Neurology·DateApr 25, 2016
Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

Researchers can identify you by your brain waves with 100 percent accuracy

A team of researchers at Binghamton University recorded the brain activity of 50 people while they looked at images, finding that participants' brains reacted differently to each image. This allowed a computer system to identify each volunteer's unique 'brainprint' with 100% accuracy.

SourceBinghamton University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Information Forensics and Security·DateApr 18, 2016

New findings reveal social thinking in the infant brain

Researchers investigated how infants process others' actions and found that brain activity in the motor system predicts imitation of others' actions. The study provides evidence for intelligent social behavior in infants as young as 7 months old, shedding light on neural processes contributing to this complex behavior.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalPsychological Science·DateApr 11, 2016

Predicting a person's distinct brain connectivity

Researchers developed a model that accurately predicts individual differences in task activation based on resting-state fMRI data. This novel approach suggests that resting-state patterns provide considerable information for estimating individual differences in task activation.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateApr 7, 2016

Key advance: UC Davis neuroscientists get a new look into how we read

Researchers at UC Davis have made a breakthrough in understanding how we read by developing a new brain-scanning technique called FIRE-fMRI. This method combines functional MRI with eye tracking to study brain activity during natural reading, providing insights into how words are represented in the brain.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·DateApr 6, 2016

Study looks at why people may feel more helpless in stressful situations than others

A recent study published in Frontiers in Neural Circuits identified specific brain areas that may contribute to stress-induced depression. The research found that mice displaying 'helpless' behavior had reduced neuronal activation and stereotypical brain-wide activity patterns, which are distinct from those showing 'resilient' behavior.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Neuroscience·DateMar 30, 2016
Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

Boost fundraising with something simple: Sandpaper

A new study published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology suggests that incorporating rough textures, such as sandpaper, into fundraising materials can increase donations. Participants who touched sandpaper were more willing to donate to lesser-known charities due to increased empathy.

SourceSociety for Consumer Psychology·JournalJournal of Consumer Psychology·DateMar 25, 2016

Neurofeedback reduces pain, increases quality of life for cancer patients suffering from chemotherapy-induced neuropathy

A new study from the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center found that neurofeedback significantly reduces chronic pain and improves quality of life in cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced neuropathy. The treatment, which uses electroencephalogram biofeedback to modify brain activity, showed a 73% improvement rate in pai...

SourceUniversity of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center·DateMar 11, 2016

Brain tune-up may aid self-motivation

Researchers at Duke University have developed a new brain imaging strategy that allows people to control their motivational centers, leading to healthier and more productive lives. By using neurofeedback, participants were able to learn which strategies worked and adopt more effective ones.

SourceDuke University·JournalNeuron·DateMar 3, 2016
Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.

New study reveals that prelinguistic infants can categorize colors

A new study reveals that prelinguistic infants (5-7 months) exhibit brain activity in response to color categories, indicating an innate ability to categorize colors. This finding suggests that color perception is independent of language and can develop independently of linguistic acquisition.

SourceTohoku University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 10, 2016

Study reveals why your brain makes you slip up when anxious

Researchers identified the inferior parietal cortex as a critical brain area that becomes deactivated when people feel they are being observed, leading to performance mishaps. This 'action-observation network' plays a role in inferring what others think and affects motor actions.

SourceUniversity of Sussex·JournalScientific Reports·DateJan 20, 2016
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

Mentally challenging activities key to a healthy aging mind

Researchers found that high-challenge activities improved memory performance and brain activity efficiency in older adults. The study suggests that mentally demanding activities may be neuroprotective and essential for maintaining a healthy brain into late adulthood. Enhanced neural efficiency was maintained a year after participation.

SourceIOS Press·JournalRestorative Neurology and Neuroscience·DateJan 15, 2016

Mazes and brains: When preconception trumps logic

The study found that brain regions associated with expectation can override objective reality, highlighting the importance of preconceptions in navigation. Researchers hope to apply this knowledge to develop new non-linguistic communication tools.

SourceKyoto University·JournalScientific Reports·DateDec 22, 2015
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.

Searching for answers in the real world

A study published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience found significant increases in functional connectivity in localized brain networks when subjects viewed art they considered aesthetically pleasing. The research team collected data from over 400 people, including men and women of different ages, using EEG headsets.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalFrontiers in Human Neuroscience·DateNov 12, 2015

Searching for the connections between art and science

A University of Houston researcher is using brain activity tracking to study the connections between art and science, with a goal of improving creativity and understanding human emotion. The project involves artist Jo Ann Fleischhauer and uses advanced headset technology to track brain activity as she creates art.

SourceUniversity of Houston·DateSep 9, 2015

Study links physical activity to greater mental flexibility in older adults

A recent study found that older adults who engage in moderate to vigorous physical activity have more variable brain activity at rest, which is associated with better cognitive performance. The research also revealed that physically fit individuals tend to have larger brain volumes and more intact white matter than their less-fit peers.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalPLOS ONE·DateAug 24, 2015

Rapid eye movements in sleep reset dream 'snapshots'

Researchers from Tel Aviv University and UCLA found that rapid eye movements during REM sleep reflect brain activity patterns associated with new images. This study, published in Nature Communications, suggests that eye movements during REM sleep are responsible for resetting our dream 'snapshots'.

SourceAmerican Friends of Tel Aviv University·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 12, 2015
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.

Dartmouth researcher discovers 'brain signature' that predicts human emotions

A Dartmouth researcher and his colleagues have discovered a neural signature of negative emotion that accurately predicts how negative a person will feel after viewing unpleasant images. The study, which included a large sample size of general adult population participants, found the brain signature to be highly accurate and specific.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalPLOS Biology·DateAug 10, 2015

Trauma experiences change the brain even in those without PTSD

Research by University of Oxford scientists found that trauma can change the brain even in those without PTSD, with potential implications for early diagnosis and treatment. The study identified specific brain network imbalances and suggests a spectrum of traumatic effect on the brain.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalNeuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews·DateAug 4, 2015

Speech recognition from brain activity

Scientists have successfully reconstructed basic units, words, and complete sentences of continuous speech from brain waves. The 'Brain-to-Text' system combines neuroscience, medicine, and informatics to extract the most likely word sequence from cortical information and linguistic knowledge.

SourceKarlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)·JournalFrontiers in Neuroscience·DateJun 16, 2015

Personality shapes the way our brains react to eye contact

Researchers found that personality traits, particularly Neuroticism, affect brain activity in response to eye contact. Participants who scored low on Neuroticism exhibited approach-associated brain activity when looking at someone making eye contact, while those with high scores showed avoidance-associated patterns.

SourceAcademy of Finland·JournalNeuropsychologia·DateJun 5, 2015

Imagination beats practice in boosting visual search performance

Research shows that imagining a visual target before searching for it is faster and more efficient than actual practice. This study suggests that the human brain benefits from visualization, which changes how information is processed early on in the visual system.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateMay 18, 2015
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.

Late-night snacking: It it your brain's fault?

A study published in Brain Imaging and Behavior found that brain activity responding to high-calorie food images is lower at night compared to daytime. Researchers used MRI to measure neural responses to food images during morning and evening sessions, revealing a dip in reward-related brain reactivity in the evening.

SourceBrigham Young University·JournalBrain Imaging and Behavior·DateMay 5, 2015

Cal-BRAIN selects 16 California research projects for seed grants

The Cal-BRAIN program awards $1.92 million in seed grants to 16 interdisciplinary teams at 10 UC campuses and other institutions to advance neurotechnology research. The projects focus on measuring brain activity through various strategies, aiming to improve treatments for brain disorders.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·DateApr 28, 2015
Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Listen to your heart: Why your brain may give away how well you know yourself

A study published in Cerebral Cortex found that brain activity differs between people who improve at tapping out their heartbeat and those who don't. The researchers also discovered a correlation between brain activity and subjective performance, suggesting that brain signals can provide a marker of objective performance.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalCerebral Cortex·DateApr 20, 2015

Signal variability and cognitive performance in the aging human brain

Greater variability in neural activity may reflect more flexible information processing, supporting better cognitive performance in aging adults. Researchers found that greater BOLD variability was associated with improved memory and fluid intelligence tasks.

SourceBeckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology·JournalPLOS ONE·DateApr 9, 2015

Brain scans reveal how people 'justify' killing

A new study led by Monash researcher Dr Pascal Molenberghs found that brain activity in the lateral orbitofrontal cortex increases with guilt when participants imagine unjustified violence, but not when imagining justified violence. The research provides insights into how people justify extreme violence in certain situations, such as war.

SourceMonash University·JournalSocial Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience·DateApr 8, 2015

University of Houston researchers build brain-machine interface to control prosthetic hand

A team of researchers from the University of Houston has developed a non-invasive brain-machine interface that allows an amputee to control a prosthetic hand with high accuracy. The technology, which uses electroencephalogram (EEG) signals to capture brain activity, enables individuals to grasp objects with ease and precision.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalFrontiers in Neuroscience·DateMar 31, 2015
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.

Intelligent neuroprostheses mimic natural motor control

Researchers have developed brain-controlled devices that decode brain signals to determine user intentions and orchestrate movements. The use of shared control empowers users to perform complex tasks with high accuracy, mirroring natural motor control.

SourceCognitive Neuroscience Society·DateMar 30, 2015

Brain processes ongoing pain more emotionally

Scientists at TUM discovered that brain activity changes when transitioning from sensory to emotional processing during prolonged pain. The experiment showed that nerve cells in the brain trigger a different pattern of activity after applying a placebo cream, reducing perceived pain.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalCerebral Cortex·DateMar 11, 2015

Blockbusters: Can EEGs predict a movie's success better than surveys?

A new study found that EEG measurements were more accurate in predicting individual preferences for movies than participants' conscious statements. The study also suggested that EEG tests are relatively cheap and can capture complete information about consumer behavior.

SourceAmerican Marketing Association·JournalJournal of Marketing Research·DateFeb 25, 2015

Cross-cultural communication -- much more than just a linguistic stretch

A study by McGill researchers found that Mandarin-speakers are more likely to interpret emotions through tone of voice, whereas English-language speakers rely on facial expressions. This cultural difference is rooted in the limited eye contact and restrained facial expressions typical of East Asian cultures.

SourceMcGill University·JournalNeuropsychologia·DateFeb 24, 2015