Bluesky Facebook Reddit Email

Disrupted connectivity of the brainstem ascending reticular activating system nuclei-left parahippocampal gyrus could reveal mechanisms of delirium following basal ganglia intracerebral hemorrhage

Delirium in critically ill patients with basal ganglia intracerebral hemorrhage shows disrupted connectivity between the brainstem's ascending reticular activating system nuclei and the left parahippocampal gyrus. This disruption is linked to delirium occurrence and may serve as a biomarker for prediction.

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

A switchboard with precision: How the brain licenses movements

Researchers discovered that specific neurons in the basal ganglia make precise decisions about when to allow and stop movements, licensing the timing of movement. This fine-grained movement control has important implications for understanding neurological disorders like Parkinson's disease.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Parkinson’s Paradox: When more dopamine means more tremor

A new study reveals that patients with Parkinson's disease who exhibit rest tremor have more dopamine preserved in the caudate nucleus, a part of the brain important for movement planning and cognition. This challenges traditional understanding of how dopamine loss relates to PD symptoms.

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.

A wave theory for a neurochemical balance in the brain

Researchers describe traveling waves of acetylcholine in the striatum, revealing a new kind of neurochemical wave. The study proposes a mathematical mechanism by which simultaneous waves of acetylcholine and dopamine arise, maintaining balance in the brain's striatum.

The timekeeper within: New discovery on how the brain judges time

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.

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

Scientists discover how the brain keeps the urge to act in check

Researchers uncover brain area responsible for driving action and suppressing drive in a novel task designed to study active action suppression. The team identified the dorsomedial striatum as the key region promoting action, while the indirect pathway suppresses it, leading to an 'impulsivity switch'.

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

Smooth movements are achieved by the stable basal ganglia activity

Research shows that stable basal ganglia activity is essential for smooth movements, as disrupting this activity leads to unstable and involuntary movements. The study used a chemogenetic tool to suppress neural activity in the subthalamic nucleus of macaque monkeys, inducing abnormal movements.

Improving the targeted treatment of movement disorders

Dystonia is characterized by involuntary movements and postures, limiting daily activities. A new study maps specific brain networks for treatment success in patients with cervical and generalized dystonia. The findings reveal distinct stimulation sites depending on the type of dystonia, offering a more targeted approach to improving t...

Stuttering starts at speech initiation, not due to impaired motor skills #ASA181

A new theory suggests that stuttering is caused by anomalies in the brain's initiation circuit, which chooses a word to speak. This circuit is separate from the muscle-coordinating circuit, and its impairment leads to stuttering. Researchers believe this could lead to targeted treatments for stuttering with fewer side effects.

Neuroscientists see how practice really does make perfect

Researchers at Duke University used new tools to monitor neurons and analyze machine learning data to see how zebra finches practice their courtship calls. They found that a neurotransmitter called noradrenaline shuts down variability in the song, making it more precise when performed under pressure.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

Research shows promising results for Parkinson's disease treatment

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have found a way to make deep brain stimulation (DBS) more precise, resulting in therapeutic effects that outlast what is currently available. The new protocol uses short bursts of electrical stimulation to target specific neuronal subpopulations, providing longer-lasting benefits.

New blueprint of brain connections reveals extensive reach of central regulator

Researchers have created a precise map of brain connectivity from the basal ganglia, revealing new details and a surprising level of influence connected to the basal ganglia. The findings offer a blueprint of the area's architecture that could potentially open additional avenues for intervention of Parkinson's disease and other disorders.

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

How the brain learns that earmuffs are not valuable at the beach

A new study led by the University of Tsukuba and NEI has discovered a brain circuit that allows monkeys to learn context-dependent object values. The researchers found that fast-spiking neurons in the basal ganglia control motor movements, including eye movements, when learning associations between objects and backgrounds.

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

How the brain processes rewards

A study analyzing 190 fMRI studies found that food and erotic images activate the left hemisphere, while money activates both hemispheres. The basal ganglia play a key role in reward processing, with different regions activated depending on the type of reward.

Song-learning neurons identified in songbirds

A study published in PNAS reveals that corticobasal ganglia projecting neurons play a crucial role in song learning during juvenile development. In contrast, adult birds with disrupted projection neurons maintain their pre-learned song structure and exhibit normal vocal fluctuations.

How we tune out distractions

Researchers at MIT have identified a brain circuit that filters out distracting sensory stimuli, allowing us to focus on our chosen input. The circuit is controlled by the prefrontal cortex and involves the basal ganglia, which play a role in controlling attention.

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

To predict the future, the brain uses two clocks

Researchers at UC Berkeley found that humans rely on two distinct neural networks to predict the future in tasks like music and sports. The basal ganglia system is sensitive to rhythmic cues, while the cerebellum relies on interval timing based on past experiences.

Carnegie Mellon's Aryn Gittis named finalist for Science & PINS Prize

Aryn Gittis' research establishes new therapeutic targets for Parkinson's therapies, using optogenetics to identify a subset of neurons in the globus pallidus that play a critical role in restoring movement. Her findings suggest targeting these cells could repair neural circuit dysfunction in diseases like Parkinson's.

Modeling brain connections to understand Parkinson's disease

A computational study models the strength of basal ganglia connections between healthy and Parkinsonian brains, revealing a broad overlap in neural connection strengths. The research could lead to customized therapies specific to individual patterns of neural degeneration.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

UTSA receives $5.29 million grant for brain health research

UTSA has received a prestigious $5.29 million grant to advance its brain health research, focusing on the basal ganglia region and potential treatments for Parkinson's disease. The funding will support local cell signaling research to develop a model of basal ganglia function.

Should I stay or should I go?

Researchers found that the direct and indirect pathways in the basal ganglia play a crucial role in controlling actions, with the direct pathway sustaining action and the indirect pathway allowing switching between actions. This new model could have therapeutic implications for treating diseases like OCD and ADHD.

Kicking the habit

Neuroscientists at Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown in Lisbon report novel findings that challenge the way the scientific community has been thinking about how actions are selected and habits are formed. The study reveals that two competing pathways in the Basal Ganglia work concurrently to promote distinct, positive outcomes.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Dopamine key to vocal learning, songbird study finds

A study on Bengalese finches found that dopamine levels in a specific region of the brain are crucial for correcting vocal errors. The research suggests that dopamine plays a vital role in sensory-motor learning, which underlies skills such as speaking and singing.

Why are habits so hard to break?

New research by Duke University scientists suggests that habits like sugar addiction manifest in the brain's basal ganglia circuitry, leading to a 'go' signal that primes cravings. The study found that mice with formed habits had altered brain activity patterns, including a change in timing between go and stop signals.

How the finch changes its tune

Researchers have discovered a neurological mechanism that explains how songbirds refine and alter their songs as adults, shedding light on the human brain's learning complex motor skills. The finding may have long-term implications for treating neurological conditions.

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

What songbirds tell us about how we learn

Researchers have identified the basal ganglia as a key brain region involved in vocal learning and variability across species. By studying songbirds, they found that this area is responsible for generating variability to aid in learning and performance.

How does the brain create sequences?

Researchers have found that neurons in the basal ganglia can signal the concatenation of individual elements into a behavioural sequence. The study's findings suggest that the brain uses a mechanism called chunking to organize memories and actions.

Genetic defect keeps verbal cues from hitting the mark

A genetic defect in the FoxP2 gene, commonly associated with human speech problems, disrupts the ability of songbirds to sing effective courtship tunes. Researchers found that the defect impairs a network of nerve cells, leading to stuttering and stammering in affected individuals.

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

Songbirds' learning hub in brain offers insight into motor control

Researchers found that a key brain structure acts as a learning hub, receiving information from other regions to improve its song, even when not directly controlling the action. This finding may help treat neurological disorders like Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease.

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

New study to test unusual hypothesis on beta brainwaves

Jones and Moore's model suggests that neurons in the cortex experience beta oscillations when receiving a combination of two input signals at the right time and strength. The researchers aim to prove their hypothesis using optogenetics and expand their computational model to incorporate upstream brain regions.

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

Research brings cure for Parkinson's disease a step closer

A new analysis suggests that Parkinson's disease can be understood in terms of damage to control circuits in the brain responsible for habits. Removing part of the brain can help patients regain smooth initiation of movements by reducing inhibitory signals from malfunctioning habitual control systems.

Every action has a beginning and an end (and it's all in your brain)

Researchers discovered that specific brain circuits in the basal ganglia signal the start and stop of new actions, a process compromised in Parkinson's and Huntington's patients. Genetic manipulation of these circuits in mice impaired sequence learning, echoing human patients' struggles with movement initiation and termination.

Key brain regions talk directly with each other, say Pitt scientists

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have found evidence that the basal ganglia and cerebellum are linked together to form an integrated functional network. This discovery has important implications for understanding Parkinson's disease and dystonia, and may lead to new treatment approaches.

Unconscious learning uses old parts of the brain

A new study from Karolinska Institutet finds that the limbic striatum, an evolutionarily old part of the brain, is involved in implicit learning of motor sequences. This discovery sheds light on fundamental learning systems shared with primitive vertebrates and has implications for developing treatments for diseases like Parkinson's.