Articles tagged with Brain Structure
A new study from Lund University reveals that Alzheimer's disease changes brain communication in distinct patterns from normal aging, with early alterations detectable before cognitive symptoms emerge. The study analyzed brain imaging from over 1,000 people, showing that connectivity patterns between brain regions change in coordinated...
Scientists develop long, precisely patterned molecular threads that enhance brain cell growth and organization. The findings introduce a new way to design highly controlled supramolecular materials with precise physical arrangement, which could inform materials' design for regenerative medicine applications.
Adults in their 60s with lower cognitive test scores were more likely to experience a future stroke, according to a new study in Sweden. The study, which examined nearly 5,000 older adults, found that those with lower cognitive function scores were at increased risk of stroke.
Dr. Chris Morrison's research aims to understand how the brain detects changes in protein intake and adapts to dietary protein restriction. The study will focus on a specific population of neurons in the hindbrain that respond to FGF21, a hormone produced by the liver in response to protein restriction.
Researchers found implanting collagen tiles during brain surgery to deliver targeted radiation therapy improves tumor control, lowers recurrence risk, and increases overall survival. Patients treated with tile-based radiation therapy had a 1.3% rate of recurrence at the surgical site compared to 15.4% in the control group.
Researchers at the University of Missouri have discovered that bullfrogs can generate ketone bodies in their brains, allowing them to continue critical neural functions even when glucose levels are low. This finding could have implications for understanding human brain health and potentially treating neurological disorders.
A new study aims to find new ways to prevent strokes in people with chronic migraine by understanding the link between cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health. The research also explores the role of immune cells in blood vessels and their impact on migraine attacks.
A new brain atlas reveals that neurons build their identity in the first hours of life, rather than inheriting it from their parent cells. The atlas, which mapped nearly 250,000 fly brain cells, shows that neuronal identity is established through a flexible, modular system involving different DNA switches and regulatory proteins.
Researchers have mapped the complete neural wiring behind taste in an animal, tracing taste signals from sensory neurons to motor neurons that drive feeding. The study reveals neural pathways that could explain how taste triggers anticipatory insulin release before a single calorie is absorbed.
The study found that structural connectome embeddedness reveals a dynamic organizing dimension of human brain activity, where whole-brain functional activity is constrained by global structural topology. Higher CoDE values indicate stronger brain activity patterns embedded in structural connectome topology.
A new brain-inspired algorithm, Spi-Fly, demonstrates promise for achieving practical applications in scent classification, particularly in scenarios with limited training data. The algorithm shows accurate classification of scents and can learn with few-shot and continual learning methods, making it suitable for real-world applications.
A team of researchers at Harvard University sustained brain organoids for nearly six years, demonstrating a lifelike developmental clock. The organoids showed emergence and maturation of neurons, as well as functional maturity, mirroring human brain development.
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory created the first cross-species brain map to link mouse and marmoset regions. The study found that 43% of mouse brain regions match with marmoset regions, shedding light on human brain function and potential disease insights.
A study published in Nature Communications identified a language-specific brain network that can be detected even when the person is at rest or performing a task unrelated to language. The researchers used data from over 1,900 fMRI scans and found that this network spans the left hemisphere frontal and temporal regions of the brain.
Researchers developed a computer model of the human cortex linking microscopic chemistry to brain-wide patterns of activity. The model found that regional differences in receptor density improve coordination between brain regions and information flow.
A new USC study uses AI to generate detailed maps of brain aging, revealing distinct patterns of neurodegeneration in specific regions. The approach sheds light on how local brain age correlates with changes in cognitive function across the lifespan.
Researchers will examine whether online support strengthens brain development linked to emotional and mental health in prematurely born infants. The scalable intervention could transform how families receive support after discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit, bringing evidence-based support into the home.
A new Rutgers study reveals that individuals with psychiatric conditions exhibit reduced brain network dynamics, which can be used to distinguish between patients and healthy individuals. The findings also suggest that dynamic features of brain function may provide a more precise way of understanding mental illness.
Researchers at Texas A&M University have found a way to intervene early in traumatic brain injuries using a natural, gut-derived chemical that prevents post-traumatic epilepsy from taking root. The treatment reduced brain inflammation, improved memory and mood, protected brain cells, made seizures both rarer and harder to trigger.
A study of 87,577 adults found that average daytime light exposure above 1,000 lux reduced dementia risk by 16%. Longer exposure to bright light was associated with an even greater reduction in risk. Daytime light exposure was stronger predictor of dementia than established risk factors.
Researchers have found that cats show comparable patterns of brain deterioration as they age, similar to humans. This study, part of the Translating Time project, aims to unlock new insights into human ageing and disease by comparing cat and human brain development.
Research reveals that zebra finch chicks' brain development is altered by heat warning calls in the egg, preparing them for hot conditions after hatching. The changes involve genes involved in blood vessel structure and muscle contraction, potentially protecting the chicks from heat stroke.
Researchers found that socioeconomic factors, such as family income and neighborhood resources, have a strong connection to brain development in children. These factors are more strongly linked to brain function than IQ scores or parenting style, and can even affect the structure of the brain through disrupted sleep and chronic stress.
Researchers have made major steps toward solving the mystery of how brain aneurysms form by identifying key cell types and genetic pathways involved. The study's findings provide new insights into a clinical paradox: smaller aneurysms can still rupture, and offer opportunities for early intervention to prevent ruptures.
Researchers have published the first complete connectome of a fruit fly brain and 'spinal cord', allowing for the study of how neural circuits control complex behaviors. The open-source resource is poised to propel neuroscience research by providing insights into basic principles of nervous system interactions.
A new research initiative aims to harness the potential of astrocytes, a type of brain cell often overlooked in AI development. By studying how astrocytes process information, researchers hope to create next-generation AI systems that learn faster and adapt more reliably.
Researchers develop tailored revascularization approach for moyamoya disease, improving circulation while minimizing complications. The technique, called STAPC, uses vessel diameter, blood-flow dynamics, and recipient brain arteries to guide surgical decisions.
Research in male sheep fetuses finds that excessive prenatal progesterone exposure alters the SRD5A1 gene, crucial for processing sex hormones in brain development. The study highlights the importance of hormones in fetal development and potential links to adult disease.
University of Missouri researchers develop organic transistors that process information like biological neural networks, boosting brain-like computing and potentially leading to more energy-efficient artificial intelligence. The approach could lead to significant improvements in tasks such as pattern recognition and decision-making.
Researchers identified a key brain pathway in rats that helps them decide whether to approach stressed pups or avoid stressed adult peers. The insular cortex and prefrontal cortex work together to process social information, with the pathway playing a crucial role in making these decisions.
Researchers discovered that interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) occur in a predictable pattern, unfolding sequentially in individual neurons. Nearly 80% of IED-involving neurons are also involved in language and perception, suggesting the brain blips can derail cognition.
Research reveals two dimensions of neuroticism: one linked to mental disorders and life well-being, the other to emotional reactivity and internal stability. High-ERIS individuals live longer due to healthier habits and risk avoidance.
New research identifies Smoothened as a regulator of dopamine-acetylcholine timing, influencing learning, motivation, and behavioral flexibility in adulthood. The study found that animals lacking Smoothened learned motor tasks more quickly but were less sensitive to changes in effort or reward timing.
The Individual Brain Charting project has released its fifth update with a new set of cognitive tasks, expanding the dataset to 40 hours of scanned data per participant. This provides an exceptionally rich resource for studying individual variability in brain organisation and understanding brain function.
Researchers have mapped the first migratory bird brain using high-resolution light microscopy and open-source software tools, creating a valuable resource for neuroscience worldwide. The new Eurasian blackcap atlas enables consistency in brain data interpretation and fosters collaboration among researchers.
Neurobiologists have identified the brain circuitry responsible for placebo pain relief, revealing a site where endogenous opioid peptides drive pain relief. The study offers hope for using expectancy-driven placebo effects as a substitute for painkillers and developing protocols to produce placebo pain resilience in humans.
Researchers propose a novel brain architecture for efficient processing, integrating parallel cortical and subcortical pathways. This approach may improve decision-making tasks, suggesting current AI models are missing key brain function principles.
A new study found that brain activity and emotional reactivity may predict risk of readmission for patients with major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder. Participants who reacted strongly to negative emotions were at higher risk of hospitalization, suggesting a potential biomarker for identifying vulnerable individuals.
Researchers developed a nasal spray that reversibly reduces brain inflammation, restores cellular power plants, and improves memory. The treatment bypasses the brain's protective shield through intranasal delivery, suppressing chronic inflammation and promoting successful brain aging.
Researchers discovered a crucial connection between the two hippocampal hemispheres in mice, which is necessary for navigation and remembering locations. The study also found that this circuit is altered in mice carrying a genetic mutation associated with schizophrenia.
A team of researchers, led by Bistra Iordanova and Liang Zhan, are developing multiscale models of brain metabolism to predict cognitive decline and dementia. They will analyze data from brain imaging, blood flow, and neural activity to identify metabolic changes that affect brain function in aging.
Researchers discovered that stroke survivors with severe motor impairment show signs of brain 'youthfulness' in undamaged regions, suggesting the brain's ability to adapt and compensate. This finding provides new insights into neuroplasticity and may guide personalized rehabilitation strategies.
A research team led by LEE Doyun and KIM Yee-Joon found that the primary visual cortex encodes motion summaries and variability before higher brain regions transform them into category signals. This process, known as ensemble perception, allows the brain to capture the overall structure of a scene at a glance.
A new brain pathway has been identified that enables humans to quickly detect and respond to 'scary' sounds, leading to increased self-reported fearfulness. This pathway is associated with better hearing ability in noisy environments.
A new study identifies a previously unknown brainstem pathway controlling hand and arm movements, revealing a multi-stage pathway integrating signals from the cortex, brainstem, and spinal networks. This finding may lead to new therapies for stroke rehabilitation, providing additional targets for neuromodulation treatments.
Researchers optimize interferometric diffusing wave spectroscopy technique to boost weak optical field returning from the brain, achieving over 20x signal to noise ratio. The novel approach provides higher brain sensitivity compared to DCS-inspired approaches and is approximately two orders of magnitude less expensive.
A University of Houston researcher disputes a study claiming multilingualism promotes healthy brain aging, finding that wealth and healthcare systems may drive longevity instead. Hernandez argues that individual behavioral solutions, such as learning a language, are oversold and distract from structural factors that support healthy aging.
A new study reveals that astrocytes regulate inhibitory signaling in the cerebellum during development, enabling the emergence of flexible and precise motor coordination. In contrast, younger animals rely on neuron-derived tonic inhibition, which is replaced by astrocyte-derived tonic inhibition in late adolescence.
Researchers found that larger amygdala volumes are associated with higher social tolerance in macaque monkeys, suggesting a multifunctional role of the amygdala in processing complex social information. Hippocampus volume was not significantly linked to social tolerance.
A recent study mapped brain injuries in individuals with acquired aphantasia and found that all cases were connected to the fusiform imagery node. This suggests a critical role for this region in maintaining visual imagination. The findings have implications for rehabilitation strategies and understanding of cognitive function.
Researchers found that veterans with prior concussions showed slower and less accurate eye movements, along with reduced performance on attention-based tasks. These subtle brain changes can be measured more than a decade after the original injury.
Researchers used machine learning techniques to compress a large model of the visual cortex, creating smaller versions that predict neural responses with high accuracy. The compact models revealed specific computational patterns in how neurons detect important features, offering insights into how visual information is processed.
Researchers identify nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) as a central mediator of neuronal migration and cortical lamination. The study reveals that UPF2, a core component of NMD machinery, is essential for proper neuron migration and brain development.
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.
A Dartmouth study challenges the conventional view of the amygdala as a primitive 'fear center' by revealing its role in mediating between competing learning strategies. The research suggests that the amygdala favors action-based learning, promoting exploration and flexibility to overcome fear.
Researchers at Amsterdam UMC found that a second pregnancy changes the female brain in unique ways, altering brain networks involved in attention and sensory cues. The study also linked structural brain changes to maternal mental health, providing new insights into postpartum depression.
Scientists have discovered a mechanism that explains how exercise improves cognition by shoring up the brain's protective barrier. The study found that an exercise-induced liver protein strengthens the blood-brain barrier, reducing inflammation and cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers have developed a new device that can record and stimulate activity across the entire surface of miniature, lab-grown human brain-like tissues, enabling whole-network mapping and manipulation. This breakthrough could improve our understanding of brain development, function, and disease.
A new software tool developed by MIT researchers can reliably and finely resolve eight distinct nerve bundles in live diffusion MRI scans, shedding light on neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. The BrainStem Bundle Tool (BSBT) reveals distinct patterns of structural changes in patients with these conditions.
Researchers have identified a specific brain network that is mainly active in the fast beta frequency range and modulates motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease through deep brain stimulation. Stimulating this network, which communicates at 20-35 Hz, can improve motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease.