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Brain pathways of aversion identified

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have mapped brain networks that control the habenula, a structure linked to feelings of discomfort and aversion. The study suggests a specific pathway that can be modulated using optogenetics, offering hope for developing new treatments for depression and anxiety disorders.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalMolecular Psychiatry·DateFeb 14, 2019

Researchers discover synaptic logic for connections between two brain hemispheres

Researchers at Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience developed a new method to identify functional properties of individual synapses linking the two hemispheres. They found that callosal inputs and local inputs with similar orientation preference are clustered within the dendritic field, enabling coordinated network activity.

Hardware-software co-design approach could make neural networks less power hungry

A team of researchers developed a neuroinspired hardware-software co-design approach that can make neural network training more energy-efficient and faster. The approach uses a type of energy-efficient neural network called spiking neural networks, combined with the soft-pruning algorithm to minimize computing power and time.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 19, 2018

Communication between neural networks

The study combines synfire communication, coherence and resonance to provide insight into how messages are exchanged between brain areas. The researchers found that oscillations play a significant role in determining whether communication can take place.

SourceUniversity of Freiburg·JournalNature Reviews Neuroscience·DateDec 17, 2018

Get dressed!

Researchers develop novel method to realistically simulate dressing tasks using machine learning techniques, incorporating sense of touch to overcome challenges in cloth simulation. The approach enables single dressing sequences and a character controller that can successfully dress under various conditions.

Resynchronizing neurons to erase schizophrenia

Researchers at UNIGE successfully resynchronized neurons to correct desynchronization in neural networks, suppressing behavioral symptoms associated with schizophrenia. The study, published in Nature Neuroscience, offers promising results for a new therapeutic approach targeting defective inhibitory neurons.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateSep 17, 2018

Growing computers in petri dishes

A team of scientists from Lehigh University has successfully engineered a living neural network that can perform basic learning tasks. The project, supported by the National Science Foundation, aims to develop new ways to think about computer design and may influence brain-related research.

What catches our eye

Scientists from TUM discovered that individual nerve cells create parallel connections to three areas of the brain, establishing feedback loops that reinforce salient stimuli while suppressing others. This automatic attention control mechanism is also shared by humans, revealing insights into perception and consciousness.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 11, 2018

Why are neuron axons long and spindly? Study shows they're optimizing signaling efficiency

Researchers at UC San Diego have found that axon geometry is crucial in information flow, with a 'refraction ratio' of 0.92 indicating optimal balance between signal latency and refractory period. This discovery has implications for understanding neurological disorders like autism and developing more brain-like artificial neural networks.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalScientific Reports·DateJul 11, 2018

Scientists teach the neural network to carry out video facial recognition -- using a single photo

Researchers at the Higher School of Economics have developed a new method for recognizing people on video using only one photo, achieving higher recognition accuracy compared to existing methods. The algorithm uses information on how reference photos are related to correct errors in video frame recognition.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalExpert Systems with Applications·DateJul 5, 2018

AI for nanoparticles

Researchers at MIT have developed an AI-based method to design multilayered nanoparticles with desired properties, potentially speeding up the development of new materials. The technique uses computational neural networks to learn how a nanoparticle's structure affects its behavior, allowing for faster prediction and design.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalScience Advances·DateJun 1, 2018

From face recognition to phase recognition

Scientists have developed a neural network that can recognize features in x-ray absorption spectra sensitive to atomic arrangement at fine scales. This method helps reveal details of atomic-scale rearrangements during iron's phase transition, and could be applied to study nanoparticles, catalytic materials, and other materials.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMay 31, 2018

Can a smartwatch detect irregular heartbeat?

A smartwatch coupled with a machine learning algorithm detected atrial fibrillation (AF) with high accuracy in patients undergoing treatment for AF. The study used data from 9,750 participants and found promising results for the use of commercially available smartwatches to detect AF.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Cardiology·DateMar 21, 2018

Researchers find algorithm for large-scale brain simulations

A new algorithm enables larger parts of the human brain to be represented using the same amount of computer memory, significantly reducing the memory required for simulations. This breakthrough allows researchers to simulate neuronal networks on the scale of the human brain for the first time, enabling studies of complex brain functions.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Neuroinformatics·DateMar 5, 2018