Articles tagged with Systems Neuroscience
A new study by UNC-Chapel Hill researcher Jennifer E. Arnold examines how people use 'they/them' pronouns in a spoken storytelling context. The findings show that college-aged speakers are able to adopt and use nonbinary 'they' with ease, suggesting a natural process of language change.
Researchers discovered a class of cerebellar inputs, called climbing fibres, are essential for associative learning to occur. These
Researchers developed a custom-built, low-cost mesoscope that can adapt to different neuroimaging experiments in live mice and rats. The system offers excellent spatial and temporal resolutions, achieved through its reversible tandem lens configuration, which enables flexible experimentation.
The themed issue highlights advances in nosology, covert consciousness assessment, neuromedical morbidity, neurorehabilitation evaluation, and medicolegal challenges. Patients with severe brain injuries may have better prognoses than previously believed, but require careful assessment due to high misdiagnosis rates.
A study published in Nature tracked neural activity of freely moving macaques using wireless eye tracking and neural monitoring. The research found that the visual cortex plays an active role in social behavior by providing signals to the prefrontal cortex, enabling the decision to cooperate.
A new study published in Neurology found that young Black and Hispanic women with multiple sclerosis face greater challenges in pregnancy, have more advanced disease, and experience higher inflammation levels, which may signal MS progression. The researchers also noted disparities in healthcare access and treatment.
Researchers at Ruhr University Bochum have identified molecules that block CO2 receptors in fruit flies, leading to potential insect repellents. The team's findings could also enable the development of a CO2 biosensor for detecting volatile substances.
A new study has identified a neural coding mechanism that allows for the transfer of information between perceptual and memory regions of the brain. This discovery challenges traditional understanding of brain organization and suggests that memory areas encode visual information in a 'photographic negative' format.
Researchers discovered a striking similarity between AI models and the human brain's hippocampus, which enables powerful AI systems. By mimicking the NMDA receptor's gating process, they improved long-term memory in Transformer models.
Researchers from the University of Technology Sydney have developed a portable, non-invasive system that can decode silent thoughts and turn them into text. The technology has been shown to achieve state-of-the-art performance in EEG translation, with an accuracy score of around 40% on BLEU-1.
Multimodal neuromonitoring (MNM) tracks blood flow, pressure, oxygen and glucose levels in the brain to inform treatment decisions. MNM has improved clinical outcomes for patients with severe traumatic brain injuries at the University of Cincinnati.
Researchers at MIT and MGH have developed a closed-loop system that monitors brain state to tailor propofol dose and achieve exactly the desired level of unconsciousness. This technology enables more than 18 hours of fine-grained consciousness control, reducing postoperative cognitive side effects in vulnerable groups.
Researchers at Sainsbury Wellcome Centre find frontal and parietal cortex play key role in encoding value of economic choices when faced with uncertainty. The study provides foundation for understanding neurobiology of risky decisions.
Researchers have discovered that traumatic memories create new neural networks and associations between distinct networks, enabling fear-based learning and recall. The study used optical and machine-learning approaches to visualize the dynamics of brain activity during memory formation.
A new study by University of Rhode Island Professor Jaime Ross found microplastics infiltrate all systems of the body, causing behavioral changes and potentially leading to serious health consequences, including Alzheimer's disease. The researchers discovered microplastics accumulate in every organ, including the brain, and alter immun...
Researchers at UCSF and UC Berkeley have developed a brain-computer interface (BCI) that allows a woman with severe paralysis from a brainstem stroke to speak through a digital avatar. The system can decode brain signals into text at nearly 80 words per minute, making it a vast improvement over commercially available technology.
Researchers identified new cell types in the developing fly's visual system using a tool that combines single-cell sequencing data with a novel algorithm. This discovery could provide exceptional tools for neuroscience to investigate developmental questions with high precision.
Scientists found that cooling or warming the striatum region slows down or speeds up activity patterns, which correlates with rats' timing judgements. This provides evidence for the 'population clock hypothesis', suggesting that brains use decentralized and flexible sense of time.
A study led by Dartmouth College researchers found that participants' color memory improved when stimuli were meaningful and part of real-world objects. The results demonstrate that the capacity for visual working memory of colors is more continuous and flexible than previously thought, with better recall of colors in meaningful contexts.
A new study at Tel Aviv University found that older bats do indeed suffer from age-related hearing loss, but at a relatively slow rate compared to humans. The researchers believe that bats have developed special adaptations to cope with their noisy environment, which could provide insights into human hearing loss.
Researchers have created a detailed map of human retinal organoid development, revealing information on cell types, proteins, and gene expression. The study uses advanced imaging techniques to visualize multiple proteins simultaneously and provides insights into retinal diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa.
Researchers at Sainsbury Wellcome Centre found that instinctual exploratory runs enable mice to learn a map of the world efficiently. The study demonstrates how biological brains can learn faster and more efficiently than AI agents by focusing on salient objects.
A groundbreaking study published in Nature Neuroscience shows that monkeys can think deeply about problems, consider multiple factors, and find optimal outcomes. This discovery challenges traditional views on animal intelligence and highlights the complexity of monkey cognition.
Researchers at MIT's Picower Institute have developed a new method to measure consciousness without external stimulation, using a breathing task internally prompted by the subject. This approach detected loss of responsiveness at lower concentrations of anesthetic than previous methods, suggesting it is more sensitive.
Researchers discovered that ocular drifts, tiny jitters in the eyes, can be influenced by prior knowledge of expected visual targets, indicating a surprising level of cognitive control. This study adds to our understanding of how vision is controlled and directed by cognitive processes.
WVU engineers developed a new electrode cuff called MouseFlex to test electric current treatments, overcoming previous challenges with stability and durability. The device can withstand high electrical stimulation and may benefit patients with conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and drug-resistant epilepsy.
Researchers found 270 distinct differentially methylated regions (DMRs) in AD brains compared to normal controls, validating their key findings using an independent cohort. The study offers a novel approach to investigating the relationship between DNA methylation and gene/protein expression.
Research found that cocaine use disorder causes significant gene expression changes in brain regions associated with reward and habit formation, contributing to persistent behavioral abnormalities. The study also identified overlapping molecular changes between cocaine and opioid use disorders, offering potential for targeted treatments.
Researchers discovered a neural system for self-localization in larval zebrafish using whole-brain functional imaging. The multiregional hindbrain circuit integrates visual information to form a memory of past displacements, correcting for accumulated displacements over many seconds.
Researchers found increased wasteosomes in the brain, a manifestation of chronic glymphatic insufficiency. The finding suggests that this condition may be associated with ageing, cardiovascular disorders, and poor sleep quality.
Researchers used a neural network model to study how brain regions interact during sleep. They found that the hippocampus and neocortex work together to convert fleeting information into long-term memory. The findings suggest that alternating between REM and slow-wave sleep stages is crucial for strong memory formation.
Researchers at Princeton University found that mice who displayed defensive behaviors after a stressful event were more resilient. They also discovered that activating dopamine while fighting back reinforced resilience, a finding that could potentially inform strategies for building human resilience.
Researchers discovered two distinct types of regret linked to separate parts of the brain, influencing stress response and mood disorders. Stress-susceptible mice were hypersensitive to one type, while healthy mice were sensitive to another.
Neuroscientists at Sainsbury Wellcome Centre discovered that individual neurons in the visual cortex of mice are modulated separately by attention and running. The study found that spatial attention and running influence neurons independently, with different dynamics.
Research at Karolinska Institutet reveals the glymphatic system malfunctions during bacterial meningitis, causing a buildup of toxic garbage that damages brain cells. The study found increased signs of neuroinflammation and neuronal damage in rats infected with Streptococcus pneumoniae.
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.
Researchers at CUNY Graduate Center explore how particles and cells give rise to large-scale dynamics that we experience as the passage of time. They found that the arrow of time emerges from simple interactions between pairs of neurons, not large groups. This discovery has implications for physics, neuroscience, and biology.
A study published in eLife identified three microRNAs that may impair healing in venous ulcers, a common type of chronic wound. The findings suggest that drugs targeting these microRNAs could help facilitate healing in patients, offering new approaches for treating this painful and slow-to-heal condition.
The new human cell line, ABC, was developed from retinal pigment epithelial cells and retains their properties, allowing for the study of events relevant to normal repair processes. The research may lead to discoveries in senescence gene programming, neuroprotection, and cellular replacement therapies for blinding eye diseases
Researchers from the University of Tsukuba develop a model that combines multiple theories to simulate motor learning in humans. The study found that larger amounts of motor exploration aid in learning sensitivity derivatives and transforming errors into motor corrections.
A new AI system uses artificial neural networks to recognize objects more accurately and stably, despite changing visual inputs. The system mimics human eye movements to improve machine vision capabilities, reducing errors in self-driving cars and other applications.
A new computer model has been developed to rapidly scan cancer genomes and identify harmful driver mutations that contribute to tumor growth. The model, trained on genomic data from various types of cancer, found additional mutations in 5-10% of patients that could help doctors identify more effective treatment options.
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.
Researchers from the University of Minnesota and Imperial College London studied miniature robber flies' aerial feats, discovering they adjust their path based on visual stimuli to evade obstacles while chasing prey. The findings may inspire future innovation in robotic sensing capabilities.
In a study published in Cell, researchers report that ventral spinocerebellar tract neurons (VSCTs) are both necessary and sufficient for regulating locomotor behavior in mice. Activation of VSCTs induces locomotion, while suppression halts it, demonstrating their crucial role in controlling this essential behavior.
A new wearable headset, Kernel Flow, monitors brain activity using time-domain fNIRS. The system can record high-resolution brain signals from across the brain with performance similar to conventional systems.
The Human Brain Project unveiled its 8th annual Summit with presentations of new scientific insights and technologies. The project has developed a powerful new infrastructure called EBRAINS, which will serve generations of brain scientists.
Researchers at the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre have discovered a new brain circuit that enables mice to override their instincts based on previous experience. The ventral lateral geniculate nucleus (vLGN) inhibits threat reactions when animals feel safe, but activates them when danger is perceived.
The Seminar for Neurotrauma and Diseases at Purdue University features innovative technologies to treat traumatic brain injuries, newly discovered biomarkers, and integrative neuroscience techniques. Researchers will showcase advancements in neurotrauma research with the help of industry leaders like Plexon.
A recent study found 18 specific gene loci linked to PTSD, providing potential new targets for treatment. The research validated the disorder's underlying biology and genetic overlap between symptoms.
Learning a new language alters how the brain divides labor between hemispheres. Comprehension becomes more specialized in one hemisphere, while production remains linked to the left hemisphere.
A study modelled psilocybin's interaction with the brain, explaining its therapeutic effects on depression, anxiety and addiction. The research integrated data from various imaging techniques to reveal the stimulation of serotonin receptors 5-HT2A involved in psychoactive modulation.
Researchers have discovered a new PET imaging biomarker that can better predict the progression of Alzheimer's disease. Microglial activation levels, as measured by TSPO-PET imaging, showed a significant correlation with cognitive outcomes in an amyloid mouse model.
Ubadah Sabbagh, a Roanoke-based Virginia Tech graduate student, has been selected as a Society for Neuroscience fellow. He will receive funding to attend conferences and be paired with senior mentors through the two-year training initiative.
A neuroimaging study identifies two brain regions sensitive to visual scenes that respond differently to tasks involving place recognition and navigation. The results suggest a more multifaceted human visual system, with potential applications in computer vision systems and recovery from brain injuries.
Mice lacking the cold-sensing ion channel TRPM8 consumed more food during the day when they should be asleep, leading to obesity and high blood sugar in adulthood. This study reveals a previously unrecognized link between thermal sensing systems, thermoregulation and food intake.
Dr. Nancy Chiaravalloti was awarded the 2017 Mitchell Rosenthal Memorial lecturer for her contributions to cognitive rehabilitation research and successful mentorship of postdoctoral fellows.
Researchers from MIT develop a new coreset-generation technique to shrink large data sets, preserving fundamental mathematical relationships. The technique can reduce massive matrices to smaller sizes, enabling faster computations and improved analysis.
A severely brain-injured woman regained the ability to communicate through eye movements, with researchers capturing the restoration process by measuring brain structure and function. The study suggests that other patients in chronic care facilities may harbor organized brain function, raising questions about diagnosis and treatment.
A multidisciplinary team created a living bio-hybrid system that connects neurons in the brain to human-made electronic devices. The research used Raman spectroscopy to analyze biocompatibility and functionality of adhering cells, paving the way for seamless interfacing between machines and nervous systems.