Understanding how the brain makes decisions
The study identifies the brain circuit controlling associations between stimuli and allows for indirect associations. The amygdala plays a crucial role in linking olfactory and taste stimuli.
Neurophysiology
Articles tagged with Neurophysiology
Understanding the effect of bedding on thermal insulation during sleep
A Waseda University research team developed a method to measure thermal insulation of bedding systems, considering individual body parts. The study found that relying solely on whole-body insulation is not enough and revealed the importance of optimizing sleep environments for better quality.
Gilles Martin identifies neurons associated with the suppression of binge drinking
Researchers have identified a specific group of neurons in the brain responsible for suppressing binge drinking behavior. The discovery may lead to new therapeutic targets for treating alcohol dependency and related health challenges.
Reelin marks cocaine-activated brain neurons and regulates cocaine reward
Researchers identified reelin as a marker for cocaine-activated medium spiny neurons in the nucleus accumbens, which controls drug-related behavior. Knocking down reelin expression impaired excitability of these neurons and abolished cocaine-induced behavioral changes.
New study reveals how tiny insects detect force
Researchers have discovered that blow flies can detect forces with high sensitivity, not only magnitude but also rate of change, which is crucial for balance and locomotion. The study's findings have promising implications for the design of next-generation walking robots.
How does coffee affect a sleeping brain?
A recent study found that caffeine increases brain signal complexity and enhances criticality during sleep, with effects more pronounced in young adults. This can lead to a state where the brain is neither fully awake nor relaxed, potentially interfering with restful recovery.
Scientists test real-time view of brain’s waste removal
A new wearable device tracks the brain's glymphatic system, a waste-removal and nutrient-delivery system. The study found that this system is active in both deep and REM sleep, as well as when waking up, and accelerates with longer sleep duration.
Social media fad of nighttime mouth taping to treat mouth breathing may pose serious risks
A systematic review of 10 studies found no evidence that mouth taping helps treat sleep-disordered breathing or obstructive sleep apnea. However, mouth taping may be associated with some improvement in mild obstructive sleep apnea severity in a subset of patients.
Asian elephants have larger brains than their African relatives
Researchers discovered Asian elephants have significantly heavier brains, weighing 5,300 grams on average, compared to 4,400 grams in African elephants. Elephant brains grow almost as much as human brains after birth, with a threefold increase in weight by adulthood.
How molecules can ‘remember’ and contribute to memory and learning
Ion channels can 'remember' previous signals, leading to changes in the receiving neuron that last for hours or days. This collective memory can accumulate over time, reducing communication between neurons and contributing to lifelong learning.
Marfan syndrome increases risk of brain alterations
Researchers found that Marfan syndrome increases vulnerability to brain damage from reduced oxygen supply and raises the risk of subsequent neurological disorders. The study highlights the importance of recognizing and managing neurological risks in Marfan patients to prevent complications.
Focused ultrasound halts growth of debilitating brain lesions
A new technique using focused sound waves and microbubbles has shown great promise in treating debilitating brain lesions called cerebral cavernous malformations. The approach has halted the growth of lesions almost entirely, offering a potential paradigm shift in treatment.
How the brain allows us to infer emotions
Researchers have identified the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) as the basis of emotional inference in animals and humans. In a study published in Nature, Xiaowei Gu and Joshua Johansen found that rats can learn inferred emotions by associating a neutral stimulus with an unpleasant experience.
Children as young as five can navigate a 'tiny town'
A study at Emory University revealed that five-year-olds have the brain system that supports map-based navigation, challenging the assumption that this cognitive ability develops until age 12. Children can recognize landmarks and navigate through a virtual town with remarkable accuracy.
Decoding the brainstem: A new window into brain–body–mind interactions
Researchers developed a live brainstem imaging method to study the nucleus tractus solitarii's role in emotion regulation and body-brain interactions. The D-PSCAN technique enabled high-resolution visualization of NTS neural activity in response to vagus nerve stimulation and gut hormone cholecystokinin, shedding light on potential the...
Gamified sleep-tracking app improves sleep and reduces body mass index in some users
A recent study by the International Institute for Integrative Sleep Medicine found that a gamified sleep-tracking mobile application improved sleep parameters, including total sleep time and sleep latency, among participants. The study also showed that these improvements correlated with reduced body mass index (BMI) in some users.
Dopamine-producing brain circuit drives eating “for pleasure” in mice
A dopamine-producing brain circuit controls hedonic eating by promoting continued consumption of palatable food. Semaglutide temporarily suppresses this circuit, but weight loss reverses the effect. Targeted inhibition of dopamine neurons counteracts semaglutide's appetite-suppressing effects.
URI to host international XV Progress in Motor Control Conference
The University of Rhode Island will host the international XV Progress in Motor Control Conference from June 30 to July 2, featuring over 30 invited speakers from around the world. The conference will focus on theoretical advances in motor control, motor learning and neural plasticity, motor disorders and rehabilitation.
The Open Brain Institute announces the dawn of a new frontier in neuroscience
The Open Brain Institute launches a groundbreaking platform to simulate and study digital brains, empowering researchers to explore brain complexity and diseases. With its virtual neuroscience laboratories, the OBI enables global collaboration and access to cutting-edge virtual labs.
Vocal changes in birds may predict age-related disorders in people, study finds
Researchers discovered that as birds age, their song gene networks change dramatically, with hub genes driving activity of other genes. This finding could lead to earlier diagnoses and better treatments for Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.
Stressful childhood experiences accelerate brain aging
A study published in Annals of Neurology found that severe early-life adversity accelerates brain aging and amplifies neurodegenerative processes in women. Researchers analyzed biomarkers, brain scans, and cognitive tests to determine the link between childhood trauma and later dementia risk.
Uncovered: How mice override instinctive fear responses
Researchers have uncovered a neural mechanism in mice that enables them to override instinctive fear responses, which may contribute to inappropriate or excessive fear responses. Targeting these circuits could offer new therapeutic avenues for treating fear-related disorders.
Hot or cold? How the brain deciphers thermal sensations
Researchers used EEG to map brain activity in response to hot and cold temperatures, finding that both invoke similar activity patterns in overlapping brain regions. The study could lead to more objective methods for evaluating thermal comfort and reducing health risks due to ambiguous subjective evaluations.
Rice labs tapped for brain research by UK funding agency with multimillion-dollar awards
The Advanced Research + Invention Agency has awarded $84.2 million to Rice researchers to explore and unlock new methods for interfacing with the human brain at the circuit level. The project involves developing a distributed network of minimally invasive implants to stimulate neural circuits with cell-type precision.
Sex-specific neural circuits underlie shifting social preferences for male or female interaction among mice
Research by Anqi Wei and colleagues found that neural circuits in mice are sex-specific, influencing socio-sexual preferences. Under survival stress, female mice switch to preferring males due to altered neuronal firing patterns.
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.
In aged mice with cognitive deficits, neuronal activity and mitochondrial function are decoupled
Research uncovers crucial coupling mechanism between neuronal activity and mitochondrial function in aging mice, revealing potential pathway to combat age-related cognitive decline. Enhancing this mechanism improves cognition in aged mice, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target.
Elucidating the neural mechanisms of stress-induced cardiovascular responses
Researchers investigated neural mechanisms of stress-induced cardiovascular responses by activating lateral habenula in rats. Activation caused changes in blood pressure and heart rate, which were suppressed by pharmacological blockade of dopamine neurotransmission.
Unraveling the neural circuitry behind stress-induced respiratory changes
Studies have shown that the lateral habenula regulates stress-related respiratory responses via the monoaminergic system, which includes dopaminergic and serotoninergic pathways. Researchers found that electrical stimulation of the LHb mimicked a stress state in rats, significantly increasing respiratory frequency.
Desert ants use the polarity of the geomagnetic field for navigation
Researchers found that desert ants rely on the polarity of the geomagnetic field to navigate during learning walks, contradicting previous findings in other insects. The team manipulated magnetic fields and observed the ants' behavior, concluding that a compass-like navigation system is useful for short-distance navigation.
A string of pearls: Study challenges long-held beliefs about shape, functioning of nerve cells
Researchers propose a new model for understanding how information is transmitted in the brain by describing a unique axon morphology that changes size and modulates action potential speed
A blueprint for the brain's circadian clock
A team of researchers has created the first complete map of the brain's circadian clock in the fly Drosophila, revealing at least 240 neurons involved in regulating daily rhythms. This detailed mapping provides a foundation for exploring circadian dysregulation linked to health conditions such as sleep disorders and metabolic diseases.
The heart has its own ‘brain’
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet and Columbia University identified a mini-brain within the heart with its own nervous system that controls the heartbeat. This discovery challenges current views on how the heartbeat is controlled and may lead to new insights into heart diseases and treatments.
These hibernating squirrels could use a drink—but don’t feel the thirst
During winter hibernation, thirteen-lined ground squirrels reduce the activity of neurons in circumventricular organs, suppressing their sensitivity to physiological cues for thirst. This adaptation enables them to survive for months without drinking, despite their bodies crying out for water.
Key brain circuit for female sexual rejection uncovered
A team of scientists has pinpointed a critical neural circuit for female sexual rejection, revealing how the brain integrates signals to shape behavior. The ventromedial hypothalamus, specifically progesterone-sensitive neurons in the anterior VMH, play a crucial role in determining whether a female accepts or rejects mating attempts.
Direct hearing tests show that minke whales can hear high-frequency sounds
A new study directly measures the hearing range of minke whales, revealing they can detect high-frequency sounds as high as 90 kHz. This discovery suggests baleen whales may be more impacted by ocean noise than previously thought and highlights the need for clearer thresholds to measure their sensitivity.
Researchers eliminate the gritty mouth feel: How to make it easier to eat fiber-rich foods
Fiber-rich food manufacturers can now create palatable products by encapsulating insoluble fibers in a soft, velvety gel coating. The treatment reduces the sensation of grittiness and dryness in the mouth by up to 52% and 36%, respectively.
Human sense of touch consists of 16 unique types of nerve cells
A new study has identified 16 distinct types of nerve cells in humans, challenging the long-held assumption that each type of sensation is linked to a specific nerve cell. The research reveals complex interactions between these nerve cells and their functions.
Echoes in the brain: Why today’s workout could fuel next week’s bright idea
A longitudinal study tracked one person's brain activity for five months, revealing how daily life affects brain function. The research found that physical activity positively influences brain regions, while subtle shifts in mood and heart rate leave lasting imprints for up to fifteen days.
New AI can ID brain patterns related to specific behavior
A new AI algorithm, DPAD, developed by Maryam Shanechi's lab, can dissociate brain patterns related to specific behaviors, improving brain-computer interfaces for paralyzed patients. The algorithm can also discover new patterns in the brain that may be missed by prior methods.
Piecing the puzzle together: How different brain regions contribute to visual object memory
Researchers identified key brain areas, including aVTC and OFC, essential for visual object memory in macaques. Single-neuron recordings revealed top-down regulation and causal information flow between these regions, shedding light on short-term visual object memory mechanisms.
Navigating the future: brain cells that plan where to go
Researchers have discovered a new type of brain cell in the medial entorhinal cortex that accurately predicts future locations as an animal travels. This discovery helps explain how planned spatial navigation is possible and has important implications for understanding mechanisms of spatial navigation and episodic memory formation.
A role for a newly identified brain activity during sleep-dependent memory consolidation
Researchers discovered a new type of brain activity called BARRs, which helps maintain balance in hippocampal neural networks during sleep. Disrupting these barrages can lead to impaired memory performance.
How epigenetics influence memory formation
Researchers found that epigenetic state affects neurons' recruitment into memory trace formation. Open chromatin states enable more efficient learning. The study opens new avenues for understanding learning and may lead to medication for improving cognitive disorders.
Daily rhythms depend on receptor density in biological clock
Scientists at Washington University in St. Louis have found that altering GABA receptor density affects circadian rhythm amplitude and synchrony among SCN cells. Reducing or mutating these receptors decreased the mice's daytime wheel-running and reduced nocturnal activity.
New brain-to-nerve signaling mechanism reveals potential path to migraine pain
A mouse study identifies a novel non-synaptic signaling mechanism between the brain and peripheral sensory system in migraine. The study suggests that CSF influx activates neurons, triggering aural migraine headaches and providing potential pharmacological targets for treating the disorder.
How GLP-1 receptor agonists mediate the feeling of fullness in mice and humans
GLP-1 receptor agonists promote preingestive satiation via neurons in the dorsomedial hypothalamus, increasing feelings of fullness and reducing food intake in both mice and humans. This study provides new insights into the neural pathways underlying GLP-1RAs' effects on obesity.
How the brain is affected by Huntington’s Disease
Research finds that Huntington’s disease damages microscopic blood vessels in the brain, affecting coordination between neuronal activity and oxygenation. The study uses non-invasive measurement techniques to monitor disease progression and evaluate potential treatments.
Myelination in the brain may be key to ‘learning’ opioid addiction
Research by Stanford Medicine scientists reveals that adaptive myelination in the brain can contribute to drug addiction, with a single dose of morphine triggering maladaptive myelination and reinforcing drug-seeking behavior.
FutureNeuro launches next phase with €17.9 million investment to transform brain disease research and treatment
FutureNeuro, a leading SFI Research Centre, is expanding its research programme with a focus on diagnostics, therapeutics, and digital health. The centre aims to develop precision diagnostics, future treatments, and systems using real-time health data.
“What was that?” — How brains convert sounds to actions
A new study reveals that neural activity related to sound detection and movement are temporally separated but share commonalities, with neurons adapting their activity based on experience. The findings shed light on the brain's complex processing of sensory information and behavioral choices.
Sleep resets brain connections – but only for first few hours
A new study published in Nature found that sleep weakens new brain connections forged during wakefulness only during the first half of a night's sleep. The researchers suggest that this 'reset' prepares the brain for learning and new connections the next day.
New study reveals key role vision plays in sculpting brain development
Researchers used a new brain mapping tool called BARseq to classify and map millions of neurons across nine mouse brains. They discovered that sensory inputs influence the cellular signatures of each brain region, leading to distinct 'signatures' akin to cellular ID cards.
The joy of sports: How watching sports can boost well-being
Researchers found that watching sports fosters a sense of community and belonging, while triggering activation in the brain's reward circuits. Regular sports viewing may also induce changes in brain structures, leading to long-term benefits for individuals.
Brainless memory makes the spinal cord smarter than previously thought
Researchers at RIKEN Center for Brain Science discovered neural circuitry in the spinal cord that enables brain-independent motor learning and recall. The study found two critical groups of neurons: one necessary for new adaptive learning and another for recalling adaptations once learned.
“Zombie neurons” shed light on how the brain learns
Researchers discovered a class of cerebellar inputs, called climbing fibres, are essential for associative learning to occur. These
Imaging detects transient “hypoxic pockets” in the mouse brain
Researchers used bioluminescent oxygen indicator to track pO2 changes in mouse cortical astrocytes, finding transient hypoxic pockets that lasted several seconds to minutes and decreased with exercise. The findings suggest physical inactivity may directly affect tissue pO2 by favoring capillary occlusions.
Smelling danger in the water: Schreckstoff mystery solved after 86 years!
Researchers have solved the long-standing question of what triggers the alarm response in fish by identifying two distinct chemical signals: Daniol sulphate and Ostariopterin. These substances convey separate pieces of information that must be detected simultaneously to trigger a flight-or-freeze response.
Effects of “blue light” on human health still unclear
The ICNIRP panel states that research on SWL exposure is inconsistent, with some studies indicating possible effects on alertness or sleep and others not supporting such effects. The panel also notes that potential long-term adverse effects of SWL exposure are unclear, particularly regarding its impact on chronic diseases and conditions.
A new channel for touch
Scientists have identified a crucial role of the newly discovered ion channel Elkin1 in converting mechanical stimuli into electrical signals, enabling normal touch sensation. The findings also suggest Elkin1 may play a part in transmitting painful mechanical stimuli, opening up new potential targets for chronic pain treatment.