Articles tagged with Neuroplasticity
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.
Researchers found that humans are born with brains at a typical development level for similar primate species, but grow much larger and more complex after birth. This challenges the prevailing understanding of evolutionary human brain development.
Researchers argue that the brain does not create new functions in previously unrelated areas but instead utilizes existing latent capacities. They provide alternative explanations for observed changes in brain activity following injury or deficit.
A small molecule called YM022 has been discovered to block aversive memory formation in mice, offering a new direction for developing anti-depressants. The study found that YM022 suppressed neuroplasticity-caused aversive memory formation and reduced depressive behaviors in mice.
A study reviewed the effects of hormone fluctuations on brain structure and behavior in pregnant and postpartum women. The researchers found that estrogen levels triggered plasticity processes in the brain during this time, affecting maternal behavior.
A study by researchers at the University of Tokyo found that the presynaptic Ube3a E3 ligase molecule plays a key role in eliminating neural synapses. This discovery offers insights into developmental disorders such as Angelman syndrome and autism spectrum disorders.
Researchers found that rodents exposed to light for the first time in adulthood showed significant plasticity in their brains, challenging previous beliefs about adult brain rigidity. After a month, their brains looked similar to those of healthy controls, with organized visual responses and smaller receptive fields.
Researchers used a mathematical theory called the free energy principle to predict how real neural networks learn and organize themselves. The study successfully mimicked this process in rat embryo neurons grown in a culture dish, demonstrating the principle's guiding force behind biological neural network learning.
Researchers developed MemTrax, a continuous recognition test for advanced cognitive impairment screening. The test quickly and accurately quantifies memory processing, storage, and retrieval, providing precise assessments of severity and rate of change over time.
A mouse study using novel biosensing technology reveals that enriched environments increase neural connections and boost brain function. The findings could lead to new AI methods inspired by brain plasticity.
A new study reveals a 12-week brain fitness program with coaching and lifestyle interventions improves patients' memory, attention, mood, and sleep. The program demonstrates significant improvements in cognitive function and reduces symptoms for ADHD, concussion, and memory loss patients.
Researchers at TUM developed a new approach to measure human brain activity using microelectrodes and awake brain surgery. They found individual neurons specialize in handling specific numbers, providing insights into cognitive functions and developing solutions for brain function disorders.
A team of researchers used MRI and audio recordings to demonstrate the association between caregiver speech and infant brain development. Infants who heard more words had slower-developing white matter, but eventually showed better linguistic performance when they began to talk.
Researchers found that temporary blindness caused by occluding one eye for two hours led to increased sensitivity to auditory input when the other eye was monitored. The brain's neural response to sound was selectively enhanced, indicating a high degree of plasticity and interdependence between senses.
Researchers found that psilocybin facilitates fear extinction in mice by promoting hippocampal neuroplasticity. The study's results improve our understanding of the restorative effects of psilocybin on the brain and may lead to alternative treatments for PTSD.
A NYU Abu Dhabi study reveals that improvements in visual functions are linked to changes in white matter pathways and specific brain regions. The research confirms the potential of cataract surgery to improve visual function and brain plasticity, especially when performed at a younger age.
A study found that practicing music and active listening can alter cognitive decline in healthy seniors by promoting brain plasticity. The researchers discovered an increase in grey matter volume in four brain regions involved in high-level cognitive functioning.
A Penn Medicine study identified a developmental sequence in brain maturation during adolescence, revealing regions supporting cognitive and social functions remain malleable until late adolescence. The study found that socioeconomic environments have a significant impact on brain development in these regions.
A recent study found that antidepressant fluoxetine facilitates the erasure of learned fear responses and enhances spatial learning in mice. The TrkB receptor in Parvalbumin interneurons is primarily responsible for this increased plasticity, suggesting a new target for treating psychiatric diseases.
A new study suggests that acetyl tributyl citrate (ATBC), a leading phthalate alternative, can disrupt neuron-like cells and interfere with the growth and maintenance of neurons. The findings indicate that ATBC could harm brain development and health.
A study by Karolinska Institutet found that blind individuals have a heightened ability to sense signals from their inner body, with an average accuracy of 0.78 for counting heartbeats. This enhanced sensitivity may also impact emotional processing and perception.
A study found that preterm infants do not habituate to repeated pain, unlike full-term infants. This lack of adaptation may affect their brain development and increase vulnerability to pain. The researchers' findings suggest that the ability to adapt to pain might develop during the third trimester of pregnancy.
Researchers at Tohoku University found that astrocytes exhibit a stronger acid response during REM sleep in epileptic mice, which may drive specific information processing and generating plasticity. This discovery could lead to the development of a biomarker for epilepsy severity and potentially inform therapeutic strategies.
Researchers discovered that neurons in the deepest part of the neocortex exhibit sensory responses and experience-dependent plasticity. The study found that these cells, known as L6b/surviving subplate neurons, play a role in the maturation of cortical functions.
Researchers studied functional brain connectivity in fighter pilots to understand its relevance to astronauts. They found specific brain connectivity patterns that may aid in training programs for pilots and astronauts.
Scientists at the University of Florida have discovered that long-term memories are formed through experience-dependent changes in protein sets, which undergo reorganization to encode the brain's circuitry. This finding provides insight into the brain's plasticity and has potential implications for understanding neurological disorders.
Researchers found that calibrating rates of information delivery to match individual brainwave cycles speeds up cognitive skill improvement. This technique, called entrainment, increases capacity to absorb and adapt new information.
Researchers identified structural changes in the thalamus and strengthened connections with the temporal cortex, enabling visual cortex activation through non-visual stimuli.
A new study in deaf rats demonstrates that stimulating the locus coeruleus region of the brain can improve how quickly they learn to use their cochlear implants. The findings suggest that differences in neuroplasticity may contribute to variations in hearing improvements among implant recipients.
A study published in Trends in Cancer suggests that targeting vulnerabilities in glioblastoma cancer cells, which maintain resemblance to the cells of origin, may lead to effective therapies. The research aims to identify ways to block these identity shifts and develop personalized treatments.
Researchers at Tohoku University used fiber photometry to analyze astrocytes' activity and found an acid response linked to intensified epileptic seizures. This breakthrough may lead to new therapeutic strategies for epilepsy, stroke, trauma-induced brain injury, and memory enhancement in dementia treatment.
Researchers from Kessler Foundation are enrolling participants in a national trial testing a breakthrough device for improving recovery after stroke. The EMAGINE Stroke Recovery Trial pairs therapeutic exercise with electromagnetic stimulation to enhance brain and spinal cord function.
Researchers found age-related changes in the balance of inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitters in the prefrontal cortex during adolescence. This study provides first-ever evidence of plasticity in the frontal cortex during this critical developmental period.
Researchers found that individuals who underwent hemispherectomy surgery at a young age can still recognize differences between pairs of words or faces with remarkable accuracy. The study, published in PNAS, sheds light on brain plasticity and its limitations.
A new USC study reveals that new fathers undergo measurable brain changes after their babies arrive, affecting areas linked to empathy and visual processing. These changes are believed to contribute to neuroplasticity and adapt to new experiences.
Researchers from Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University found that brain stimulation combined with a nose spray containing nanoparticles can improve recovery after ischemic stroke. The treatment increased cognitive and motor functions, and weighed more quickly than those treated with TMS alone.
A new study by Grant Brown and Braeden Donaldson found that juvenile convict cichlids exposed to high-risk alarm cues have brains 16% larger compared to low-risk groups, with noticeable increases in olfactory and optic bulbs. The brains revert to normal size after removal of the alarm cues.
Researchers tested a core-strengthening program using the AllCore360º to improve trunk function, balance, and mobility after stroke. The study showed promising effects on functional outcomes, including improved lateral control of posture and standardized treatment dosage.
A research team has won the NIH's Neuromod Prize for their innovative approach to spinal stimulation, which uses autonomic neuromodulation to regulate nervous system activity. The breakthrough could lead to improved autonomy and daily functioning for people with spinal cord injuries.
A new study suggests that supplementing a diet with Ascidiacea, also known as sea squirts, reverses some main signs of aging in animal models. The researchers found that plasmalogens, vital to body processes, decrease with age and contribute to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Chronic pain causes maladaptive emotional states and is often comorbid with psychiatric disorders. Researchers identified the neuronal circuit involved in chronic pain-induced anxiety in mice, finding that restoring its activity attenuates anxiety.
A study found that intact astrocyte networks are essential for neural homeostasis, synaptic plasticity, and spatial cognitive abilities in adult mice. Disrupting these networks impairs spatial learning and memory due to altered neuronal excitability and compromised synaptic transmission.
A team of scientists has identified a previously unknown brain region involved in maternal behaviors in mice, which is linked to hormone-sensitive neurons. The discovery sheds new light on the biological mechanisms underlying pregnancy and its effects on brain circuits.
A study by UC Riverside researchers shows that reactivating the Fmr1 gene in young transgenic mice with Fragile X syndrome eliminates symptoms. This breakthrough treatment offers hope for young children living with FXS and suggests targeting early brain development may be effective.
Researchers found that low-contrast preferring neurons in primary visual cortex increase after repeated experiences, enabling perception of familiar objects. This flexible mechanism allows for consistent perception of objects with varying contrast.
Researchers found that high-dose gait training using a robotic exoskeleton can restore functional ambulation in individuals with moderate to severe hemiplegia caused by stroke. The study showed improvements in walking distance, speed, balance, and endurance, with no complications or falls reported.
Researchers at the University of Basel have discovered two new types of glial cells in the brain that may play a crucial role in brain plasticity and repair. These cells can potentially be used to treat neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis.