Articles tagged with Neurology
Researchers identify a type of synesthesia in which individuals hear sounds when they see things move or flash, suggesting an enhanced form of visual processing. The four synesthetes outperformed nonsynesthetes on a test involving rhythmic patterns of flashes and beats.
Researchers discover that Japanese encephalitis virus damages the brain in two ways: killing neurons and preventing new cell growth from neural stem/progenitor cells. This leads to devastating effects on mental functions, particularly in children.
A woman in southern Ontario acquired a unique Maritime Canadian accent after a stroke, according to a study by McMaster University researchers. Despite intensive speech therapy, the new accent persists, even two years later.
Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center have identified a 'food-related clock' that can supersede the body's primary biological rhythms, enabling better coping with changes in time zones and nighttime schedules. By adjusting eating schedules, humans may be able to adapt more quickly to new time zones.
Researchers found that electric shocks ranging from 120 to 52,000 volts can cause neurologic and neuropsychological symptoms in humans. Short-term follow-up showed 26% of patients experiencing new symptoms, while one-year follow-up revealed 28% still suffering from these symptoms.
A new study found that ghrelin increases the response to food pictures in brain regions involved in reward and motivation, suggesting a link between pleasure signals and metabolic drives. The findings may have implications for treating obesity and could inform policies aimed at reducing fast food consumption.
A study published in The Lancet Neurology found that cilostazol is as effective as aspirin in preventing recurrent stroke, but causes fewer bleeding events. This suggests that cilostazol could be a more effective and safer alternative for Chinese patients with ischemic stroke.
UCLA researchers found that people tend to accept fair offers over unfair ones, with the brain responding similarly to winning money or eating chocolate. The study suggests that humans have an innate preference for fairness, which can be regulated through self-control.
A study by Max Planck Institute researchers found that unconscious brain activity can predict decisions made by participants up to 7 seconds before they consciously make a choice. This suggests that the decision is unconsciously prepared ahead of time, but the final decision may still be reversible.
Researchers at the University of Rochester have discovered a second depth-perception method in the brain, combining visual cues with motion and perspective to create a representation of three-dimensional space. This new mechanism may help restore binocular vision in children with misaligned eyes and improve virtual reality experiences.
Researchers at the University at Buffalo found that taking ibuprofen while taking aspirin for stroke prevention reduces its effectiveness. In a study of 28 patients, all took ibuprofen and had no anti-platelet effect from their daily aspirin.
A new book by Steven Small and colleagues examines how the brain functions when people participate in sports as athletes, coaches, and fans. The study reveals that professional athletes activate only critical regions of the brain, while novices have to engage multiple regions due to emotional involvement.
Jazz musicians' brains shut off areas linked to self-censoring, turning on those that let self-expression flow. The brain regions responsible for self-expression and novel ideas are activated during improvisation.
A recent study published in The Lancet Neurology found that alteplase treatment can improve clinical outcomes in stroke patients even when administered outside the conventional 3-hour window. The researchers identified patients with an ischaemic penumbra and showed significant benefits in tissue reperfusion and reduced infarct growth.
Researchers at Schepens Eye Research Institute found that blocking VEGF can damage the cell lining preventing fluid from leaking into the brain. This may contribute to Avastin's neurological side effects in humans.
Researchers found that obese rats have abnormalities in brain regions critical for appetite control, including reduced responsiveness to the hunger-suppressing hormone leptin. This suggests that obesity may be wired into the brain from early life, making it challenging to reverse with exercise and diet alone.
A study published in the Journal of the American Dental Association found that dental amalgam fillings do not affect children's brain development or neurological status. The researchers studied 507 Portuguese children and found no differences between those who received amalgam and resin-based composite fillings.
Recent research by Natalie Denburg and colleagues found that 35-40% of healthy older adults exhibit poor decision-making abilities, which is associated with increased vulnerability to deceptive advertising. The study suggests that these individuals may experience disproportionate aging of the brain region critical for decision-making.
Researchers at OHSU Neurological Sciences Institute have discovered the brain's wiring system that determines when to perform shivering as a defense against cold. The study reveals that this process involves parallel but distinct sensory pathways for conscious and subconscious cold detection.
Belief and disbelief activate different brain regions, including those linked to emotions and taste perceptions. Uncertainty triggers a unique response in the anterior cingulate cortex and caudate region.
Stroke patients with mild to moderate impairments experience substantial improvement in upper limb function after just 2 weeks of constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT). The effects are retained for up to 24 months, with significant improvements in quality of life, social participation, and activities of daily living.
Researchers identified specific chemical compounds that triggered aggressive behavior in male mice, shedding light on the neurological basis of behaviors. The study focused on high molecular weight proteins, which were found to activate sensory neurons in the vomeronasal organ, mediating aggressive responses.
A brain scanning experiment found that when colleagues earn less, participants show stronger activation in the brain's reward centre. Traditional economic theory suggests that only absolute size of rewards matters, but this study reveals relative earnings play a major role in motivation.
A systematic review found that the risk of major stroke within a week after a minor stroke is substantial at 5.2%. Studies with emergency treatment in specialist stroke units showed the lowest risks, while population-based studies without urgent treatment had the highest risks.
A new imaging technique has enabled scientists to measure mouse satiety and hunger levels in the brain, offering a more objective understanding of why people become obese. The study used magnetic resonance imaging to observe neuronal activity in the hypothalamus area, revealing that certain neurons 'light up' when mice are hungry or full.
Ralph L. Sacco, a Florida neurologist, received the American Heart Association's Chairman's Award for his leadership in creating Power To End Stroke, a nationwide educational campaign aimed at raising stroke awareness among African Americans. The program has reached every state in the continental US and made measurable progress in spre...
A study published in Annals of Neurology found that the ventrolateral nucleus, a deep brain area, is involved in sensory processing. Researchers used behavioral and neuroimaging studies to investigate a patient who experienced changes in sensory perception after a stroke affecting only this region.
A comprehensive study is underway to examine the impact of prenatal exposure to mercury from dental fillings on neurological development. The researchers will collect hair samples from children in the Seychelles who were exposed to methyl mercury through their mothers' seafood consumption and dental work.
A Tulane University study examines the relationship between alcohol consumption and stroke risk in a large sample of Chinese men, finding that heavy drinking increases the risk of stroke. The research reveals that even moderate levels of alcohol intake can lead to higher risk of death by stroke.
A large cohort study found that heavy drinking was associated with a higher risk of stroke in Chinese men. Drinking more than 21 drinks per week increased the risk by 22%, while heavier drinking correlated to higher mortality rates.
Researchers found that axon stimulation can increase signal transmission to the cortex, suggesting a new mechanism for brain processing. This discovery may lead to treatments for psychiatric disorders where brain cells communicate incorrectly.
Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center discovered the key site in the brain where a hormone called prostaglandin E2 causes fever responses during infections. This discovery sheds light on the adaptive function of fever in protecting the body from illness, including increased sensitivity to pain and achiness.
Most UK sports clubs do not conduct comprehensive preparticipation medical evaluations, despite recommended guidelines. A survey found that less than half of cricket and rugby union clubs recorded player concussion histories before employment.
A new review in Science discusses the convergence of evolutionary, neurological, and social-psychological insights on morality's origins. Haidt identifies three key principles: intuitive primacy, moral thinking for social doing, and morality binds and builds.
A multi-center study shows that repeated Botox treatments over a year significantly decrease spasticity and pain in upper limbs following a stroke. The treatment improves quality of life for post-stroke patients with significant and lasting relief from debilitating symptoms.
A study found that the use of antithrombotic drugs like aspirin has led to an increase in intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke deaths among older adults. The researchers analyzed data from two studies and found that the proportion of patients taking these medications who experienced strokes increased significantly over time.
Wernicke encephalopathy, a serious neurological condition, is increasingly reported after obesity surgery due to vitamin deficiency and vomiting. Patients should be alert for symptoms such as confusion, lack of coordination, and visual changes.
A large Canadian study found that patients admitted to hospitals on weekends had a 14% higher risk of dying within seven days compared to those admitted during the week. The 'weekend effect' was more pronounced in rural hospitals and among general practitioners.
A new unified score, ABCD², has been developed to predict stroke risk within 2 days of TIA more accurately than existing scores. This improvement can help guide clinical decisions and optimize secondary prevention strategies.
Women are more likely to inherit an increased risk of ischaemic stroke than men, with a higher likelihood of having a family history of stroke in mothers and sisters. The age at stroke for women and their siblings correlates with the age at stroke for their mothers.
A study of 3,718 residents found that eating at least 2.8 servings of vegetables per day slowed cognitive change by 40% compared to those who consumed less than one serving per day.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School found increased thickness of two brain areas in people with migraine compared to healthy controls. The study used magnetic resonance imaging and identified structural differences that may explain visual processing problems during attacks.
A study examining stroke recurrence in Mexican Americans found they have a higher risk of recurrent strokes compared to non-Hispanic whites. This increased risk is associated with a higher mortality rate, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to improve outcomes.
Biomedical engineers at Washington University in St. Louis have discovered a new learning strategy called categorical adaptation, which suggests that learning does not necessarily scale proportionally with error size.
A Stanford scientist who has lived as both male and female argues that women's underrepresentation in science is due to bias, not innate differences. He cites studies showing bias in grant applications and research evaluations, highlighting the need for a more inclusive approach.
A Mayo Clinic study found that patients with widely fluctuating blood pressure during the first three hours in the emergency room were much less likely to survive more than 90 days after a stroke. The study suggests that managing blood pressure acutely after ischemic stroke is crucial to improve survival rates.
A study by UCL scientists found that people's brains struggle to distinguish between real and imagined events, leading to hallucinations in schizophrenia. The researchers used fMRI scans to observe brain activity while participants remembered whether words had been seen or imagined.
Researchers at Ohio State University Medical Center have developed a device that effectively eliminates migraine pain by targeting the aura phase. The TMS device sends an electric current to the brain, interrupting the neural disturbances that signal the onset of migraines.
The study, led by Dr Nathaniel Daw and Dr John O'Doherty, used fMRI scans to measure brain activity while subjects gambled for money. Most people switch between exploring and exploiting strategies seamlessly, making it hard to distinguish between them.
A recent UCLA study found no association between the MCPH1 and ASPM gene variants and differences in brain size. The researchers used MRI scans to measure brain size in 120 healthy individuals and identified those with these genetic variations, but their findings suggest caution when interpreting evolutionary advantages of these variants.
Researchers found that more growth hormone is produced in females than males and in adults, with the hormone responding to estrogen. The study has implications for menopausal women using estrogen replacement therapy and athletes taking growth hormone and anabolic steroids.
A multicenter trial of two spinal cord injury therapies found that weight-supported treadmill training and conventional overground mobility therapy produce similar outcomes. The study showed that individuals with partial spinal cord injuries can walk independently by six months, regardless of the therapy strategy.
A team of University of Wisconsin-Madison scientists reports that the brain can be rewired in anticipation of sensory input to respond in prescribed ways. By manipulating expectancy, the brain code for tastes is activated less when a cue suggests a lesser taste, and the perception of the taste matches the prediction.
Researchers have established that microsaccades are responsible for driving 80 percent of our visual experience, resolving a scientific debate. This discovery brings new hope to patients who are blind much of the time due to fixational eye movement problems.
Researchers propose that brain regions like cerebral cortex and spinal cord are designed with low conduction delays in mind, allowing for efficient signal transmission. The study provides a mathematical framework for understanding the segregation of gray and white matter in the brain.
A Barrow researcher has received a $965,000 grant to investigate nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the brain's pleasure-reward centers. The research aims to develop novel drug treatments for nicotine dependence, building on previous findings that an anti-depressant medication, bupropion, mimics nicotine's effects at these receptors.
Researchers monitored the accuracy with which subjects could step onto a target, finding that vision was blocked only after the foot had left the floor. This suggests that people use visual information to adjust their footfall while their foot is moving forwards.
Researchers used brain scans to predict volunteer performance in a motion discrimination task. They found that brain signals related to spatial attention predicted performance, suggesting the brain uses internal signals to influence perception.
A prestigious team of international editors led by Professor Donnan is launching the International Journal of Stroke, focusing on clinical aspects of stroke and providing regional news, world press reports, and topical reviews. The journal aims to reduce the burden of stroke worldwide through research and debate.
Researchers identified areas of the brain where neuronal activity decreases when objects are made invisible, suggesting a relationship between conscious experience and visual perception. The findings may advance understanding of the brain's interaction with the eye and its importance in medicine, neurology, and psychology.