Articles tagged with Sensory Systems
Researchers at OHSU have revealed the structure of the key part of the inner ear responsible for hearing, a long-standing mystery. The discovery could lead to new treatments for hearing impairments affecting over 460 million people worldwide.
A study found that resiliency and family support play a crucial role in helping Hispanic breast cancer survivors manage lymphedema. Adaptations such as modifying work tasks and seeking support from family members enable survivors to maintain their quality of life.
Researchers found that mothers' higher depressive symptoms did not predict increases in children's behavior problems, including those with autism. The study suggests that maternal depression may have a complex impact on caregiving families.
Researchers at Rice University have created a new optical tool called homo-FRET that allows them to observe the real-time activity of two-component systems in bacteria. This breakthrough enables scientists to study the behavior of deadly pathogens and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, shedding light on their mechanisms and potential targe...
A new study from the University of East Anglia found that brain regions responding to touch also respond to specific sounds associated with touching objects. This connection may help process sensory information more efficiently and has implications for mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, autism, or anxiety.
A WVU researcher is studying corollary discharge circuits in fruit flies to better understand how the brain integrates sensory information and coordinate movement. The goal of this research is to shed light on human disease and human performance, with potential applications for improving fighter pilot safety.
A new study reveals an 'expanding hole' illusion that deceives the brain, prompting a dilation reflex in the pupils and making us perceive more light. The illusion is perceived by approximately 86% of people and affects how our visual system anticipates and makes sense of the visual world.
A new study found that COVID-19's delta surge led to a significant prevalence of smell and taste loss in approximately 100% of active cases, contradicting self-reports. The loss persists even after mild infections, highlighting the need for ongoing surveillance.
A new study by Bar-Ilan University researchers reveals that synchronized brain activity is crucial for information transfer between brain regions. Increasing synchronization improves transmission and processing of information, while decreasing it impairs cognitive function. This finding may contribute to the development of treatments f...
A postmortem examination of 23 COVID-19 patients revealed significant changes in the sensory system responsible for processing smells. Loss of smell is an early symptom of COVID-19, and this study provides new insights into its underlying causes.
New research suggests the brain uses multiple strategies to process smells, employing both snapshot-like and evolving ensemble approaches. The study provides new tools for scientists to quantify and interpret brain activity patterns.
A study published in Current Biology found that people share similar odour preferences regardless of cultural background. The researchers discovered that the structure of the odour molecule determines whether a smell is considered pleasant or not.
Researchers at GIST demonstrate that ultrasound pulses can reduce β-amyloid plaque concentration and tau protein levels in AD-model mice, suggesting a promising non-invasive therapeutic strategy. The treatment also improves brain connectivity without causing harm to brain tissue.
A new study published in JNeurosci found that the brain selectively responds to unfamiliar voices during sleep, even when familiar voices are present. This ability allows the brain to strike a balance between resting and being responsive to its environment.
A new theory outlines how magnetite crystals in specialized receptor cells of salmon and other animals may have roots in ancient genetic systems developed by bacteria, suggesting a common evolutionary history between magnetite-producing bacteria and fish. The findings have the potential for widespread application, from improving salmon...
A new study by Georgia Tech researchers has found a novel pathway for understanding why debilitating side effects occur with cancer treatment. The findings suggest that the central nervous system is vulnerable to cancer treatment's adverse effects, and correcting any one may not be enough to improve human function and quality of life.
A transdisciplinary research team at Göttingen Campus has found a new perspective on the rhythmic processes in the brain. They discovered that adapting interneurons can switch between very slow rhythms and fast rhythms, challenging previous assumptions about their function.
Researchers at the Monell Chemical Senses Center found that COVID-19 patients experience distinct smell distortions, with parosmia affecting younger females more often and phantosmia common in middle-aged individuals. The study suggests that understanding these differences may help physicians treat patients better.
A study published in eLife found that rats exhibit efficient coding processes for visual stimuli, similar to those observed in humans. This suggests a universal principle in vision, where the brain adapts to its environment by specializing in the recognition of informative signals, thereby conserving computational resources and energy.
Researchers found that subjects who underwent cataract surgery had a nearly 30% lower risk of developing dementia compared to those who did not. The results persisted for at least a decade after surgery and were associated with lower risk of Alzheimer disease dementia specifically.
The National Institute for Materials Science in Japan has developed an ionic artificial vision device capable of increasing edge contrast between dark and light areas like human vision. This device uses ionic migration and interaction within solids to mimic human optical illusions without software.
A study by the Technical University of Munich discovered that pungent substances from chili, ginger, and pepper are transferred to breast milk after consumption. These substances can be detectable in breast milk for several hours, with maximum concentrations being 70- to 350-fold below the taste perception threshold of an adult.
Researchers at Rutgers University have linked Fragile X and SHANK3 deletion syndrome, both associated with autism and health problems, to walking patterns. The study used motion-sensored sneakers to detect gait problems 15-20 years before clinical diagnosis, offering a potential framework for early intervention.
Researchers at WashU Medicine identified a drug that helps sensory neurons regrow after spinal cord injury. The drug, fenofibrate, activated support cells and improved recovery by about twice as much as a placebo. This finding offers potential for repurposing an FDA-approved compound to restore sensory function.
The study found that negative smells trigger a physical avoidance response, indicating an unconscious and rapid reaction mechanism. The olfactory bulb processes smells rapidly, with signals reaching the brain within 100-150 milliseconds.
Researchers discovered how neurons in a small area of the brain filter distracting signals to coordinate dexterous movements. The findings may hold lessons for building better prosthetics and robots that can fine-tune their movements based on sensory input.
Researchers found that males and females have different heat-sensing systems, which may be related to reproduction and offspring care. This difference leads to segregation between the sexes at certain periods during breeding cycles.
Researchers generated brain organoids containing functional optic cups from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), demonstrating intrinsic self-patterning ability. The optic cups exhibited light sensitivity, diverse retinal cell types, and connectivity to brain regions.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a model of how internal states and external stimuli shape the behavior of hydra, a tiny, jellyfish-like creature. By studying their neural networks, scientists can gain insights into fundamental principles that may apply to more complex animals.
Researchers found that fly brains use prediction to guide behavior, making them more efficient in evading predators. The visual system uses an information bottleneck to filter out unnecessary sensory data and preserve necessary information for predictions.
Researchers at the University of Michigan discovered a neural network in fruit flies that can convert external stimuli into a binary decision. The network, which involves the posterior medial core region, amplifies weak signals and suppresses strong ones to make 'yes' or 'no' decisions.
A team of scientists discovered a sensory circuit in worms that allows them to choose between spending energy on self-defence and relying on nearby bacterial protection. The discovery suggests that the presence of E. coli bacteria is crucial for peroxide resistance, which could lead to improved health and longevity in humans.
Scientists have created a novel approach to analyze neuronal response to different call meanings in songbirds. The analysis shows that initial responses contain information about the call's meaning, with additional information accumulating up to 600 milliseconds. Individual neurons play a significant role in categorizing call meanings.
Researchers at Cornell University have developed a stretchable optical lace material that enables soft robots to sense their environment through mechanosensors. The material allows robots to detect changes in stress and strain, enabling them to adjust their actions accordingly.
Researchers developed an interface to connect a leg prosthesis with residual nerves, providing sensory feedback that reduces effort during walking and phantom limb pain. The system also increased confidence in prosthetic use, enabling users to devote more attention to other tasks.
A biochemical oxygen sensor conserved across biological kingdoms allows both plant and animal cells to sense changes in oxygen levels. The newly identified enzymatic oxygen sensor is functionally identical in plants and animals, with potential implications for addressing cellular hypoxia in human diseases like cancer.
A new study by Lund University found that virtual reality can help individuals with long-term dizziness shift their reliance from vision to other senses for better balance. The study showed differences in how men and women are affected by VR, with more women needing additional practice to master this skill.
Researchers have identified a potential new approach to restore hearing loss by activating the EGF receptor signaling pathway in cochlear support cells. The study found that this pathway can trigger cell proliferation and regeneration of sensory hair cells, which may lead to improved hearing restoration.
Researchers at RIKEN developed a self-powered heart monitor that can be taped to the skin, utilizing sunlight as a power source. The device achieves high photo-conversion efficiency and demonstrates accurate heartbeat detection in both rats and humans under various lighting conditions.
A study found structural changes in the brain's sensory system, which processes sensations and movement, in people with restless legs syndrome. These changes may be related to symptoms such as uncomfortable sensations and an irresistible urge to move the legs.
Early life stress may affect mental health through epigenetic changes in both stress-related and sensory networks. This new hypothesis proposes that glucocorticoids prime the epigenetic machinery while neural activation coordinates programming mechanisms.
Researchers have successfully coaxed human stem cells into becoming sensory interneurons, responsible for relaying information from throughout the body to the central nervous system. This breakthrough could lead to a cell-based treatment that restores sensation in paralyzed people without immune suppression.
A new study from the University of Chicago found that the shape and mechanics of fish fins evolve in parallel with the sensory system, tuned to swimming behavior. The researchers mapped fin shape on an evolutionary tree to determine how the mechanical properties and nervous systems of the fins evolved over time.
Researchers discovered that fruit fly steering muscles are divided into two types, with tonic muscles always in use for fine-tuned adjustments and phasic muscles used for rapid movements. This unique organization enables efficient flight control.
Researchers investigated how hawkmoths integrate visual and tactile cues to track flowers, revealing a simple additive model for signal combination. The study suggests that the sense of touch plays a greater role in tracking behavior, but both senses are used to follow the flower.
A research team from Northwestern University and Lund University has identified a sensory system in fruit flies that directly detects air humidity, allowing them to adapt to changing environments. Understanding this ability could lead to new tools for mosquito control and inform the prediction of species distribution under global warming.
Researchers successfully promoted the repair of an injured neural circuit in zebrafish using a special form of inducible adenylyl cyclase that responds to blue light, increasing repair rates by up to 30%. This breakthrough has potential therapeutic implications for conditions like diabetes-related neuropathies.
Researchers found that mosquitoes employ a razor-sharp sense of smell to detect warm-blooded prey, triggering vision and other sensory systems. The team used wind tunnels to study mosquito behavior, observing how carbon dioxide triggers a strong response in the insects.
A team of scientists has identified the nature of fish's 'sixth sense', which allows them to detect flows of water. The research found that a unique layout of flow sensors on the surface of fish is nearly universal across species, enabling them to retrieve signals about water flow and use this information in different behaviors.
Researchers at Rutgers University found that neurons in mice reacted more strongly to threatening odors before the brain interpreted the message. This discovery could lead to new therapeutic treatments for anxiety disorders by understanding how fear-learning affects the senses.
A new rat brain study reveals that sensory information travels to two places at once: the thalamus and deeper cerebral cortex layers. Signals are relayed from the thalamus to both layer 4 and 5 simultaneously, contradicting decades of dogma.
People with high IQ scores have more selective visual perception, discriminating between small moving objects and larger background motions. This ability helps them efficiently process information in a world filled with distractions.
Neural activity in response to basic sensory information may be unreliable in individuals with autism, leading to a range of behavioral abnormalities. The study suggests that autism could result from fundamental defects in general neural processing.
Researchers at McGill University have discovered that the brain processes information from the inner ear non-linearly, preferring unexpected changes in stimuli. This finding has significant implications for treating patients with vertigo and dizziness, and may lead to better treatments for balance disorders.
Researchers have shown that gene therapy can induce the formation of extra sensory hair cells in young mice, but this approach has limitations in older animals. Introducing a specific gene called Atoh1 into the cochleae of young mice can produce electrical signals and connect with neurons.
Researchers identified KCa3.1 ion channel in Purkinje cells, allowing them to filter sensory input and coordinate body movements. This discovery fills a gap in understanding how neurons process information.
Researchers have identified a potential oral therapy for HSAN1, an inherited nerve dysfunction characterized by progressive muscle control loss. Oral administration of L-serine reversed deoxysphingolipid accumulation and reduced neuropathy severity in mice and humans with the disease.
A new study demonstrates that even a simple microbe can achieve sophisticated sensory adaptation, allowing its behavior to remain consistent in ever-changing background conditions. Researchers found that E. coli responds to relative changes in sensory inputs rather than absolute concentrations.
Researchers found that WTC workers had decreased sensitivity to odors and irritants, with nearly 75% experiencing impaired ability to detect irritants. The study suggests regular evaluation of sensory function is crucial for WTC responders and workers with pollutant exposures.
The study reveals that fish and some amphibians use a unique sensory system to detect vibrations in water, allowing them to navigate and locate prey. Mathematical models developed by researchers demonstrate surprising accuracy in predicting nerve signals, enabling potential applications in robotics.