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Rats anticipate location of food-guarding robots when foraging

Researchers studied rats navigating an L-shape track with a food-guarding robot. The rats created neurological maps of places to avoid after experiencing negative events and thought about these locations even after leaving the area. This finding provides insight into the neuroscience of common psychological conditions like anxiety.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 14, 2025

Antibody that neutralizes inhibitory factors involved in nerve regeneration leads to enhanced motor function after acute spinal cord injury

A clinical trial showed that an antibody blocking Nogo-A protein improves motor function in patients with incomplete spinal cord injuries. The treatment led to significant improvements in voluntary muscle activation and everyday life functional independence. Further studies are needed to confirm the findings.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalThe Lancet Neurology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateDec 19, 2024

What social rejection teaches your brain

A USC study reveals that forming social ties relies on learning from positive outcomes, such as rewards, and tracking relational value. The findings help explain why we are drawn to certain people and how we navigate relationships, with implications for mental health and social behavior.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateDec 10, 2024

Outcomes worse for patients who develop pressure sores after acute spinal cord injury

A study published in JAMA Network Open found that hospital-acquired pressure ulcers are associated with poorer neurological outcomes and reduced motor function in patients with acute cervical spinal cord injury. The findings suggest that preventing pressure ulcers can help protect these patients and lead to improved medical care.

SourceOhio State University Wexner Medical Center·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeObservational study·DateDec 6, 2024

Mass General Brigham research leads to new insights on preventing brain injury after cardiac arrest

A team of researchers from Mass General Brigham has identified changes in immune cells that can predict patient recovery after cardiac arrest. The study suggests that a particular population of cells may provide protection against brain injury and a drug that can activate these cells, improving neurological outcomes in preclinical stud...

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalScience Translational Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateDec 4, 2024

New drug candidate for spinocerebellar ataxia

A Phase 2 trial evaluated L-arginine's efficacy and safety in patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 6, showing a mild improvement in ataxia symptoms. However, the treatment effect was not statistically significant, requiring further investigation to confirm its effectiveness.

SourceNiigata University·JournalEClinicalMedicine·DateDec 3, 2024

Wildfire smoke exposure and incident dementia

A cohort study found that long-term exposure to wildfire and fine particulate matter was associated with dementia diagnoses. The study suggests that reducing wildfire PM2.5 exposure could decrease dementia diagnoses and address health disparities.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Neurology·DateNov 25, 2024

Is therapeutic hypothermia an effective treatment for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, a type of neurological dysfunction in newborns?

New research highlights additional therapies being tested for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in newborns, including agents blocking glutamate receptor activation and antioxidant drugs. While therapeutic hypothermia is effective in high-income countries, its efficacy is uncertain in low- and middle-income nations.

SourceWiley·JournalDevelopmental Medicine & Child Neurology·DateNov 20, 2024

Mount Sinai team shows AI can detect serious neurologic changes in babies in the NICU using video data alone

Researchers at Mount Sinai trained an AI algorithm on over 16 million seconds of video footage from newborns in the NICU to predict sedation and cerebral dysfunction. The study shows promise for a minimally invasive, scalable method for continuous neurologic monitoring.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalEClinicalMedicine·TypeObservational study·DateNov 11, 2024

Nigerians are experiencing neuro-long COVID

A study found that 4.6% of Nigerian participants with COVID-19 experienced neurologic symptoms, with some still experiencing symptoms two years after their initial episode. Researchers plan to treat these patients using similar techniques used in the US, aiming to alleviate their suffering.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalJournal of NeuroVirology·DateOct 24, 2024

New research confirms that young adults can also have large vessel occlusion strokes thought to happen in older adults, given the rise of stroke risk factors in younger adults

New research confirms that young adults are at risk for large vessel occlusion acute ischemic strokes, which were previously thought to occur mainly in older adults. The study found that nearly 20% of a cohort of 1,200 young adult patients had these strokes, highlighting the need for regular check-ups and prompt treatment.

SourceCleveland Clinic·JournalJournal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases·TypeMeta-analysis·DateOct 16, 2024

First map of every neuron in an adult brain

Researchers from the FlyWire Consortium have created a detailed wiring diagram of every neuron in the adult fly brain, revealing substantial similarities between individual brains. The map includes 50 million connections between neurons, providing insights into neural circuits and their functions.

SourceUK Research and Innovation·JournalNature·TypeImaging analysis·DateOct 2, 2024

Navigating space: Dual maps discovered in the brain

Researchers have found two distinct maps in the brain's secondary motor cortex that enable spatial planning and navigation, with implications for understanding neurological conditions such as stroke. The study discovered a self-centred map used for planning actions and a world-centred map used to determine body position in the world.

SourceSainsbury Wellcome Centre·JournalJNeurosci·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 16, 2024

How the brain's inner chamber governs our state of consciousness

A new study published in Nature Communications reveals how propofol sedation alters the connections between brain cells in the thalamus and cortex, shedding light on the neural mechanisms underlying consciousness. The researchers found that disruptions to the matrix cells' activity play a crucial role in the transition to unconsciousness.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 9, 2024

Augmented recognition of distracted driving state based on electrophysiological analysis of brain network

A new research paper proposes an electrophysiological analysis-based brain network method for augmented recognition of different types of distractions during driving. The study used a simulated experiment and machine learning classifiers to achieve high accuracy in distinguishing between normal and distracted states.

SourceBeijing Institute of Technology Press Co., Ltd·JournalCyborg and Bionic Systems·DateAug 28, 2024

Biomimetic peripheral nerve stimulation promotes the rat hindlimb motion modulation in stepping: An experimental analysis

A new research paper presents a biomimetic peripheral nerve stimulation method that facilitates regulation of lower limb movements during stepping and standing. The study achieved muscle control via different sciatic nerve branches, verifying the effectiveness of single-cathode extraneural electrical stimulation in promoting lower limb...

SourceBeijing Institute of Technology Press Co., Ltd·JournalCyborg and Bionic Systems·DateAug 27, 2024

Increased risk of dementia after acute kidney injury

A new study published in Neurology found that acute kidney injury is associated with an increased risk of developing dementia. The study analyzed data from over 300,000 individuals and found a 49% higher risk of dementia overall, with significant increases for specific types of dementia such as Lewy body dementia and vascular dementia.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalNeurology·TypeObservational study·DateAug 26, 2024

Spike mutations help SARS-CoV-2 infect the brain

Researchers found a specific deletion in the spike protein that enhances the virus' ability to infect brains of mice, which could help understand 'long COVID' and develop treatments. The study suggests viruses with this deletion can traffic from the lung to the brain, leading to neurological symptoms.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature Microbiology·DateAug 23, 2024