Articles tagged with Neurophysiology
A new framework, criticome, integrates experience until age 25, reframing autism, schizophrenia, depression, and trauma as developmental disorders. The study suggests that screen-saturated childhoods may produce adult dysfunction, highlighting the importance of early experience in brain development.
Researchers have developed a new device called Neuropixels Opto that can record and manipulate neuron activity in the brain. The device, published in Nature Methods, integrates electrophysiology and optogenetics to provide unprecedented insight into neural circuits and neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia.
A new study maps how 29 factors influence one another in young adults aged 18-40, revealing self-reinforcing loops that worsen depressive symptoms and disrupt sleep. The model highlights the complexity of these interactions and suggests a nuanced approach to breaking the cycles.
A study proposes that sleep disruption may be connected to increased risk of dementia through the brain's waste clearance system. The glymphatic system, active during sleep, helps remove metabolic waste, and its disruption may lead to cognitive decline.
Researchers discover specific calcium signals in microglia that regulate anxiety and grooming behaviors, offering new opportunities for therapies and diagnosis. Mice lacking the Hoxb8 gene are susceptible to extreme anxiety and pathological overgrooming.
The APOE2 gene variant is associated with exceptional longevity and reduced Alzheimer's risk. Research reveals that APOE2 helps human neurons maintain genomic integrity and resist cellular senescence, driving neurodegeneration. This study offers a mechanistic answer to the protective mechanism behind APOE2's role in aging.
The APOE2 gene variant is linked to exceptional longevity and reduced Alzheimer's risk, thanks to its ability to help human neurons keep their DNA intact and resist cellular senescence. This study reveals a previously underappreciated function of the gene, shifting attention away from its role in cholesterol transport.
A recent NIH-funded study reveals that oral small-molecule GLP-1 drugs can suppress eating for pleasure and reduce cravings by targeting a deeper brain region, potentially treating other dysfunctions in reward processing. The findings provide insight into the neural mechanisms underlying the effects of these medications.
Gonçalo Cotovio uses lesion network mapping to identify the circuits responsible for psychiatric symptoms, aiming to develop personalized brain stimulation treatments. His work has produced striking findings in mania and obsessive-compulsive disorder, with ambitions to extend to disordered feeding behavior.
Researchers subjected fruit flies to extreme gravitational forces and found they adapted and recovered, showing resilience in movement and energy use. The study suggests the brain makes energy trade-offs based on gravity levels, with moderate increases pushing for more movement and higher energy demands.
Scientists found that the brain adapts to noise-induced damage within 24 hours by increasing excitability and inhibitory inputs in the superior paraolivary nucleus. This enables the restoration of critical timing information for sound processing, despite diminished sensitivity to quieter sounds.
The EBRAINS Roadmap Symposium will bring together the global neuroscience community to shape the EBRAINS 10-Year-Roadmap. A total of 159 submissions from 134 unique contributors across 25 countries have been received, reflecting the momentum of Europe's digital neuroscience landscape.
The 2026 cohort of Leon Levy Scholars in Neuroscience will pursue research projects addressing neurological disorders and developing new treatments. The program provides scientific and professional career development opportunities, including mentorship and networking.
Researchers developed a nasal spray that reversibly reduces brain inflammation, restores cellular power plants, and improves memory. The treatment bypasses the brain's protective shield through intranasal delivery, suppressing chronic inflammation and promoting successful brain aging.
Researchers confirmed core predictions of Hubel and Wiesel's model by analyzing signal transmission at individual synapses between the thalamus and visual cortex. They found that orientation selectivity emerges through cortical circuits, resolving a long-standing controversy in neuroscience.
A male octopus's dual-purpose arm can detect progesterone, a hormone produced by the ovaries, allowing it to locate the oviducts for fertilization. This specialized organ demonstrates how sensory systems can shape reproductive behavior and potentially influence speciation.
A new study uses optogenetics to control specific communication pathways in the common marmoset brain, offering a clearer view of complex behavior and brain disorders. This method enables researchers to manipulate individual long-range brain circuits with greater precision than before.
Researchers found that vivid dreaming helps sustain deep sleep perception across the night, offering a new perspective on what shapes our perception of sleep depth. The quality of dreams, especially immersiveness, appears crucial in interpreting brain activity during sleep.
Dr. Cazares co-founded Colors of the Brain and advocated for GRE removal to support students from underprivileged backgrounds. He aims to bring neuroscience to underserved communities through portable, affordable, and non-invasive methods.
A new study reveals that astrocytes regulate inhibitory signaling in the cerebellum during development, enabling the emergence of flexible and precise motor coordination. In contrast, younger animals rely on neuron-derived tonic inhibition, which is replaced by astrocyte-derived tonic inhibition in late adolescence.
Researchers found that veterans with prior concussions showed slower and less accurate eye movements, along with reduced performance on attention-based tasks. These subtle brain changes can be measured more than a decade after the original injury.
A study published in Cornea reveals that aniridia not only alters corneal structure but also affects sensory nerve function, leading to a progressive decline in corneal sensitivity. In adulthood, patients experience difficulty distinguishing stimulus intensity and reduced tear production, compromising eye defense mechanisms.
A new study reveals that astrocytes actively participate in motor-learning circuit rewiring by eliminating synapses in the striatum. The research identifies MEGF10 as a key molecular mediator of this process, which is regulated by dopamine signaling and neural activity.
A new study from the University of East Anglia found that babies with an increased likelihood of autism may struggle to settle into deep, restorative sleep. Those with high sensory sensitivity slept more lightly even in quiet environments.
Researchers found that brain synchrony between mothers and children is equally strong when playing in the native language or an acquired second language. This suggests that multilingualism can support healthy communication and learning without disrupting the brain-to-brain connection.
A new study found that aligning overnight fasting with the body's natural sleep-wake rhythm improved cardiovascular and metabolic health. Participants who extended their fast by two hours and dimmed lights three hours before bedtime showed significant improvements in blood pressure, heart rate, and blood-sugar control.
The Sleep Innovation Laboratories, led by Dr. Matthew Walker and Eti Ben Simon, aims to bridge foundational neuroscience with real-world application related to sleep. The Labs will focus on creating greater access to engaging, actionable sleep education and advancing a core strategy of the Center for BrainHealth.
The FENS Forum 2026 will be Europe's largest neuroscience congress, covering areas of basic to translational research. Journalists can register for free and attend symposia and poster sessions.
A new study found that pink noise can reduce restorative REM sleep and interfere with sleep recovery, while earplugs were more effective in protecting sleep against traffic noise. The findings challenge the widespread use of ambient sound machines and apps marketed as sleep aids.
The ŌURA–NUS Joint Lab combines wearable biometric data with sleep science expertise to study how sleep and physical activity shape long-term health outcomes. The lab aims to generate insights that help individuals, clinicians, and health systems shift from reactive care to proactive preventive health.
UVA experts Bruce Greyson and Marieta Pehlivanova argue that the NEPTUNE model leaves many unanswered questions about near-death experiences. Despite its sophistication, the model selectively ignores scientific evidence and fails to address key aspects of NDEs.
Researchers at the University of Virginia Health System have discovered how the keto diet protects against epilepsy seizures by regulating brain cell activity. The team found that a specific cellular receptor, HCAR2, plays a crucial role in reducing seizures, and may be targeted for new treatments.
Research finds that nearly one in four Medicare beneficiaries with dementia are prescribed potentially harmful medications linked to falls, confusion, and hospitalization. Despite declines in prescribing rates, high levels of inappropriate prescribing persist among older adults with cognitive impairment.
JMIR Publications' JMIR Neurotechnology journal now accepts submissions on novel technological advances for neurological disorders. Researchers can submit review articles exploring emerging technologies, such as neurofeedback, neurosurgery, and brain-machine interfaces.
A new study published in Science uncovers how the brain prepares and produces facial gestures through a temporally organized hierarchy of neural codes. The research found that multiple brain regions work in parallel, each contributing different timing-based codes to generate coherent facial gestures.
Researchers developed a triple-electrode integrated functional electrode for synchronized monitoring of neural signals and dopamine release during sleep-wake transitions. The study highlights the critical role of dopamine in regulating sleep-stage transitions and identifies distinct neuronal populations involved in this process.
Researchers discovered that calcium alpha-ketoglutarate restores key memory-related brain functions disrupted in Alzheimer's disease. The molecule enhances synaptic plasticity, protects neurons from degenerative changes, and supports healthier cognitive ageing.
A new study from Texas A&M University reveals that circadian disruptions change the structure of mammary glands, weaken immune defenses, and fuel aggressive breast cancer. Disabling an immune checkpoint molecule called LILRB4 helps restore the immune system's ability to fight back.
Research reveals cannabis use may promote deep, restorative sleep critical for physical restoration and immune function, but at the cost of reduced emotional regulation and memory integration. Chronic cannabis users experience diminishing benefits as use increases.
Scientists at Salk Institute find protein CCN1, secreted by astrocytes, maintains stable neural circuits in adult brains. The discovery could lead to new therapeutics for brain injury and stroke.
A team of researchers has captured the process of synaptic vesicle fusion with neurotransmitters, revealing a direct form of vesicle recruitment that enables neurons to send signals over longer periods. This breakthrough could lead to targeted therapies for synaptic disorders and improve our understanding of brain function.
A research team at the University of Göttingen investigated how laughter can be regulated and found that social cues can strongly interfere with these efforts. The results showed that suppression and distraction were effective strategies to hold back laughter, while cognitive reappraisal could reduce how funny the jokes felt.
Researchers used AI to study covert attention and found emergent properties in artificial neural networks, including new neuron types with response properties never highlighted before. The findings have implications for our understanding of the human brain and its ability to process information.
Research found that breast cancer flattens corticosterone release in mice, reducing quality of life and increasing mortality. Disruptions to diurnal rhythms have been linked to stress responses like insomnia and anxiety in cancer patients.
Plants have evolved thermogenic strategies to attract pollinators, including generating heat through cellular respiration. Cycads rely on specialized beetle pollinators and exhibit daily bursts of infrared radiation in the afternoon and early evening, which is sufficient to attract these insects.
Researchers developed an experimental protocol to monitor brain activity in mouse models, finding that brain activity shifts from inner layers to cortex throughout the day. This discovery could lead to new methods for assessing fatigue and understanding mental health issues.
Scientists developed a wireless device that uses light to send information directly to the brain, bypassing natural sensory pathways. The soft device delivers precise patterns of light through the bone to activate neurons across the cortex, allowing mice to learn and interpret meaningful signals.
Astrocytic glutamine synthetase plays a key role in regulating glutamate signaling, contributing to nicotine-induced brain changes and locomotor sensitization. A custom-designed peptide inhibits this process, demonstrating the importance of astrocyte communication in nicotine addiction.
Researchers identified five phases of brain structure, each supported by four turning points between birth and death, revealing key developments in cognitive performance, neural efficiency, and regional compartmentalization. The study provides context for understanding why brains develop differently at various stages of life.
Researchers aim to strengthen and retrain swallowing function in people with early Parkinson's disease using a novel treatment program. The three-year study will test the effectiveness of SwallowFIT on swallowing difficulties, aspiration rates and nutritional status.
Researchers found that a small section of intact corpus callosum is enough to sustain full integration of the two brain halves, contrary to previous assumptions. The discovery has implications for epilepsy surgery and brain injury recovery.
Researchers discovered that pancreatic tumors form pseudosynapses, exploiting the body's nervous system to drive tumor growth. Calcium waves triggered by glutamate binding promote metastasis and cancer progression.
Researchers found that sleep-deprived individuals experience attentional failures coinciding with a flushing of CSF from the brain. During these lapses, physiological changes occur, including a flux of CSF out and then back in. The study suggests that the brain attempts to compensate for lost cleansing by initiating pulses of CSF flow.
A new study reveals how prenatal alcohol exposure impairs key brain cells and circuits, leading to cognitive inflexibility and increased risk of compulsive alcohol use. Researchers identified a specific brain cell affected by early alcohol exposure, providing a clear target for developing more effective treatments of FASD.
Researchers at the University of Tsukuba identified a peptide hormone called Capa that regulates calcium levels in fruit flies. The study found that Capa is secreted by specific neurons and acts on organs similar to vertebrate kidneys to mobilize calcium from stored reserves.
A new study using next-generation imaging technology discovered that when the brain is falling asleep, it shows a coordinated shift in activity. Areas involved in thinking, memory, and daydreaming quiet down and use less energy during NREM sleep.
A study of 80 couples found that child- and marriage-related stressors affect self-regulation, particularly in fathers. Lower heart rate variability was associated with more difficult child behavior, with marital stress amplifying this effect.
A new virtual reality training task has been developed to help stroke survivors living with visuospatial neglect, a disabling condition affecting attention and awareness of one side of space. The VR task incorporates interactive exercises and audiovisual cues to engage patients and support rehabilitation.
Researchers have discovered that deep sleep plays a crucial role in controlling cerebrospinal fluid dynamics, which is essential for clearing waste from the brain. During slow-wave sleep, changes in cerebrospinal fluid signals are time-locked to slow brain waves and other neural events.
A new study reveals that astrocytes, a type of glial cell, are responsible for stabilizing memories through repeated engagement. The researchers found that Fos activity in astrocytes only occurs during recall, and that these cells can be activated to produce stable memories.