Articles tagged with Neuroplasticity
Research in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging reveals that lifetime physical activity can reshape neural connectivity, strengthening the brain's internal communication and optimizing its response to stress. The study challenges traditional deficit-focused views of adversity, offering a more dynamic and hope...
Treatment with psychedelics triggers large-scale reconfiguration of brain network dynamics driven by myelin remodeling, which might augment or sustain therapeutic effects. The study suggests that enhancing myelination could be a viable strategy to promote longer-term neural health and recovery from PTSD.
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.
Researchers found that computerized cognitive games improved neuroplasticity in adults with chronic traumatic brain injuries, leading to better cognitive performance. The study revealed changes in white matter associated with improved processing speed, attention, and working memory.
Scientists have observed changes in brain cells' signal transmission during learning processes, shedding light on the brain's adaptability. The study found that axon initial segments, responsible for generating electrical signals, can lengthen or shorten in response to experiences, influencing neuronal activity.
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.
Researchers at UT San Antonio have discovered the molecular mechanisms generating electrical oscillations in microtubules, a frequency similar to that observed during brain activity. This discovery could lead to therapies preventing or reversing memory loss and improving neuroplasticity.
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 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.
Research finds infants with sensorineural hearing loss lack normal left-hemisphere language specialization. Early auditory stimulation and language exposure can help preserve brain development.
Neural signals respond differently depending on time of day, with reduced activity at sunrise and enhanced at sunset. Blocking adenosine reveals a key regulator of cortical excitability across the day.
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 found that Rab4 boosts neural connection strengthening while Rab10 decreases it, directing supplies to the surface of growing connections. This discovery may lead to new strategies for protecting memory in neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer's disease.
A recent study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that vision therapy can effectively treat concussion-related eye coordination disorders, including convergence insufficiency and accommodation insufficiency. Nearly 90% of patients in the treatment group were able to see normally after 12 weeks of therapy.
A new study found that healthy habits such as optimism, good sleep, and social support are strongly linked to healthier brains. Study participants who reported the most protective factors had brains eight years younger than their chronological age, and their brains aged more slowly over time.
A new study reveals that fluoxetine alters how brain cells manage their energy and rebuild connections, potentially helping the brain adapt during depression treatment. This changes may create a window of plasticity or flexibility in the brain.
Researchers have found that tiny worms can help understand how memories fade, with dopamine playing a major role. Without dopamine, the worms held onto memories longer than usual, revealing that forgetting is a finely tuned process essential for staying focused and flexible.
Researchers discovered a precise coordination between two proteins, BDNF and MMP-9, to strengthen specific brain connections. This mechanism is essential for learning, memory, and overall brain health.
A new review from the University of Victoria suggests that psilocybin and 5-MeO-DMT may help treat concussions and traumatic brain injuries by increasing neuroplasticity and reducing inflammation. The compounds have shown promise in treating depression, anxiety, and other conditions in clinical research.
Despite long-held assumptions, a new study reveals that the brain's somatosensory cortex holds a stable 'body map' even after limb loss. The findings have significant implications for treating phantom limb pain and restoring sensation in prosthetic limbs via brain-computer interfaces.
A new study published in PNAS found that prolonged and repeated exposure to GABA anesthetic agents in infants under two months leads to accelerated visual cortical development. This may suggest the use of non-GABA-active anesthetics for newborns, as a large multicenter clinical trial is currently underway.
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.
Researchers have discovered that the brain uses separate synaptic transmission sites to regulate spontaneous and evoked activity, a process essential for learning, memory, and mental health. This dual system enables the brain to maintain stability while adapting 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.
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.
The YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas has developed a new pilot program called 'YES YOU CAN!' focusing on brain plasticity and comprehensive support for children, teens, parents, and counselors. The initiative aims to promote well-being and provide access to expert care through virtual and in-person methods.
A recent study found that people with plaque in their neck arteries have higher amounts of tiny plastic particles compared to those with healthy arteries. The concentration of these plastics was significantly higher in individuals who had experienced a stroke, mini-stroke, or temporary vision loss due to clogged blood vessels.
A single dose of a psychedelic compound can enhance cognitive flexibility for weeks after administration, according to a groundbreaking study. Mice treated with the compound showed improved performance in reversal learning tasks compared to control groups when tested weeks later.
University of California researchers developed a new drug, JRT, with reduced hallucinogenic potential compared to LSD. The compound has shown promise in treating the negative and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia, including anhedonia and cognitive function.
Researchers discover edonerpic maleate enhances neural plasticity, supporting cortical reorganization and improving motor control in non-human primates with SCI. The compound promotes AMPA receptor movement to areas responsible for motor control, strengthening existing neural connections.
Researchers at Kyoto University investigated the effects of two-hit stress on mouse behavior, revealing significant changes in the cerebellum. The study found increased microglia turnover, neuronal loss, and decreased brain connectivity, correlating with anxiety-like behaviors and mental disorders.
Researchers at Kyoto University investigated the effects of two-hit stress on mice, finding that it leads to increased microglia activity, neuronal loss, and decreased brain connectivity. Microglia replacement therapy showed promise in rescuing affected mice, with female mice exhibiting higher stress resilience.
A new clinical trial will use MDMA in combination with Prolonged Exposure therapy to enhance treatment outcomes for individuals with PTSD. Researchers believe MDMA shows potential in improving PTSD symptoms by increasing neuroplasticity and processing traumatic memories.
The new μETF method simplifies fabrication of flexible 3D microelectrode arrays for neural applications. It reduces stimulation thresholds by 1.7 times and improves spatial resolution compared to traditional flat electrodes. The technology has potential in brain-computer interfaces, wearable electronics, and lab-on-a-chip systems.
Researchers at Tohoku University developed lab-grown neurons that form complex networks resembling animal nervous systems. These networks exhibit diverse neuronal ensembles and can be reconfigured through repetitive stimulation, mimicking neural plasticity.
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.
Researchers found a parallel pathway to long-term memory formation that bypasses short-term memory. Blocking short-term memory did not disrupt long-term memory retention.
A review paper suggests that MDMA-assisted therapy can benefit military personnel with traumatic brain injuries, improving emotional and cognitive challenges. The drug may facilitate social connections, increased self-esteem, and neural plasticity, leading to improved treatment outcomes.
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.
A four-year study funded by a $2.5 million grant will investigate the impact of spinal cord transcutaneous stimulation combined with gait training on motor recovery in individuals with traumatic brain injury. The research aims to improve clinical treatment strategies and decision-making for improved gait and functional recovery.
Researchers found increased whole-brain connectivity in bilingual participants, particularly those who learned their second language early in life. This increased connectivity was stronger between the cerebellum and left frontal cortex, indicating a more efficient brain organization in terms of functional connectivity.
Researchers found that vagus nerve stimulation can improve sound discrimination in mice, suggesting a potential new approach to treating hearing disorders. The technique may also speed up hearing improvements from cochlear implants, enabling implant recipients to communicate more effectively.
Neurobiologists identify shared brain mechanism behind meth and PCP-induced cognitive deficits, finding a reversible switch in neurotransmitters. Reversing this switch restores memory function, offering potential for new treatments.
A new analytical tool called PATH can quantify tumor cell plasticity, which is a key characteristic of cancer that leads to treatment resistance and metastatic spread. Researchers used PATH to analyze tumor samples from animal models and human patients, revealing new details of how tumors exploit plasticity to spread.
Researchers at the Plasticity and Remodeling of Neural Circuits laboratory aim to stimulate myelin plasticity to regenerate affected nerve fibers in MS patients. The team will explore gene therapy, pharmacological approaches, and rehabilitation strategies to enhance myelin repair.
Researchers have created the first map of a human brain over the course of pregnancy, documenting changes in gray and white matter. These findings suggest that the adult brain is capable of undergoing extended periods of neuroplasticity, which may support behavioral adaptations tied to parenting.
Researchers led by Daniela Vallentin successfully rewired zebra finches' brains using optogenetics, expanding their vocal repertoire. The findings have implications for human aging and potential therapies for neurodegenerative diseases and learning impairments.
The brain stores multiple copies of a single memory in parallel among different groups of neurons emerging at different stages during embryonic development. These memory copies change with time, with early-born neurons storing long-term persistence and late-born neurons fading over time.
Researchers have uncovered new insights into how the brain regulates imitative behavior, a phenomenon that facilitates interaction and social cohesion. The study used advanced brain stimulation technique to pinpoint the causal role of different circuits in facilitating or inhibiting automatic imitation.
Researchers at the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) have developed an innovative robotic rehabilitation system called SPINDLE to enhance the strength and dexterity of individuals with tremors. The study revealed significant benefits, including improved motor control, coordination, and neuroplasticity.
Researchers used virtual reality to test whether humans can feel embodiment toward prosthetic
Antidepressants, such as SSRIs and SNRIs, work by restoring connections between brain regions, rather than correcting a chemical imbalance. The framework highlights the importance of these medications in alleviating depressive episodes, even if MDD isn't caused by a lack of serotonin.
A team of researchers from Rice University and the University of Michigan found that some neurons not only replay recent past experiences but also anticipate future experience during sleep. The discovery provides an unprecedented view of how individual neurons in the hippocampus stabilize and tune spatial representations during periods...
Researchers at the University of Helsinki found that singing repairs the structural language network of the brain after a cerebrovascular accident. Singing also improved tract connectivity and increased grey matter volume in language regions, leading to improved speech production in patients with aphasia.
Researchers have developed a new weight loss drug that combines GLP-1 with molecules blocking the NMDA receptor, exploiting its effects on appetite control and neuroplasticity. This approach shows promise for greater weight loss in mice than existing medications.
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.
A new study by researchers at the University of Minnesota reveals that non-invasive brain stimulation can change a specific brain mechanism related to human behavior. The technique, called transcranial alternating current stimulation, modulates brain activity by shifting when brain cells are active.
A team of scientists identified VAP as a molecular anchor that stabilizes mitochondria near synapses in dendrites, supporting memory formation and plasticity. The discovery links VAP to ALS-linked protein and suggests that mitochondrial stabilization is critical for neuronal function and health.
Researchers found that inhibitory neurons in the entorhinal cortex continue to migrate and build new connections until age two, contributing to neuroplasticity periods and potential susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease.
A study in mice suggests that daydreams can shape the brain's future response to what it sees. Researchers found that patterns of activity during a mouse's first few daydreams predicted how the brain would respond to an image later, indicating a potential causal relationship between daydreaming and brain plasticity.